York considering expansion of COVID-19 contact tracing lists

You could soon have to keep a record of attendees if you want to host a gathering or event in York Region — and face fines if you fail to do so.

York Region Public Health is considering issuing an order mandating gathering and event hosts provide a list of attendees within 24 hours if asked, to support contracting-tracing efforts. York has yet to enact or fully detail the order, but it would be under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

Failing to comply could result in a ticket of $880 but York director of communication Patrick Casey said non-compliance could leave someone liable for an up to $5,000 fine. 

“Recently, we have found gathering or event organizers are not maintaining an attendance list, making it challenging to perform timely case and contact management follow-up with individuals who may have been exposed when a case is reported,” Casey said.

The move comes after a COVID-19 outbreak at a Markham basketball tournament, with the organizer fined under the Reopening Ontario Act for not keeping an attendee list. The act requires businesses like event spaces, recreation centres, restaurants, fitness centres, schools, casinos and strip clubs to keep attendee lists. But the York order could go beyond that and apply to more types of gatherings.

Casey said these lists help manage the spread of COVID-19.

“Through timely receipt of these lists we are able to follow-up quickly, inform them they may have been exposed, and highlight the importance of isolating so they can keep themselves and their families safe,” Casey said. “This is both for security and safety of the unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals given the increased transmissibility of the delta variant.”

York has yet to announce the exact scope of the order. The region has indicated it is willing to enact more expansive orders to address rising COVID-19 cases. But it has not enacted anything recently, beyond enhanced COVID-19 screening for students.

Casey said contact management is critical.

“Case and contact management continues to be a cornerstone of Public Health’s COVID-19 response."