Ontario Provincial Police say several places within the municipality of Leamington are having to answer charges of defying COVID-19 restrictions.
Officers at the OPP Leamington detachment were called to the locations on Sunday after receiving multiple complaints that large groups of people were gathered at them. Police soon determined that the gatherings were not in compliance with the Reopening Ontario Act.
Three people have been charged with failing to comply with the Act. If convicted, individual fines ranging from $750 to $100,000 could be imposed. Criminal prosecution or jail time may also be a consequence.
With a provincial stay-at-home order in place at least through May 19, gatherings are limited to members of one household and one person living alone from another household. Religious services, weddings, and funerals are limited to ten people, though drive-in services are allowed.
The OPP did not immediately identify the locations. Blackburn News has reached out to the OPP for more information but it has not responded by the time of publication.