Pair of ByWard Market restaurants facing fines for not following COVID-19 rules
Dalhousie Street's Atari and Somewhere Dine Bar on Murray Street have both been caught not following provincially mandated rules, designed help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Ottawa's Bylaw and Regulatory Services (BLRS) issued a charge to Atari for failing to comply with an Emergency Order under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act on August 1.
The charge, which comes with a fine of $880, was issued after an officer saw that restaurant staff were not ensuring patrons remained seated at all times, except:
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- while entering the area and while moving to their table
- while placing or picking up an order
- while paying for an order
- while exiting the area
- while going to or returning from a washroom
- where necessary for the purposes of health and safety
BLRS then issued a charge to Somewhere Dine Bar on August 15, specifically for failing to ensure physical distancing and that patrons were seated. The restaurant was also ordered to obtain a food premise business license.
BLRS says these charges are a result of proactive enforcement that is being conducted by it and the Ottawa Police Service in the ByWard Market.
