UPDATED APRIL 3: The City of Toronto has announced sweeping new rules in the battle to fight COVID-19 that affect the public’s use of parks.

“Today, the City of Toronto announced that all City-owned playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor exercise equipment and other parks amenities, as well as parking lots attached to its parks system, will be closed effective immediately, in the City’s continuing efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19,” says the official press release.

It is also now illegal under provincial statute to congregate in groups of five or more. And under a new City order, “Any two people who don’t live together, who fail to keep two metres of distance between them in a park or public square, can receive a $1,000 ticket – the maximum set fine available. Officers could issue higher tickets that would be subject to the courts where fines could go up to $5,000 upon conviction.”

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