Medical Officer of Health Issues Section 22 Class Order to Old Order, Markham, Old Colony, and David Martin Mennonite Communities

Update as of January 11, 2021 - all orders mentioned in this release have been rescinded.

Waterloo Region – On November 30, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang has issued a Section 22 Class Order to members of the Old Order, Markham, Old Colony, and David Martin Mennonite communities in Waterloo Region.

The order comes into effect immediately. 

The order is being issued to enable enforcement actions, when appropriate, to slow the spread of COVID-19 in these communities. In addition to requiring that individuals themselves comply with public health requirements, this order prohibits social gatherings in or on a private residence with people outside of a person’s immediate household.

Discussions are occurring with community leaders to enable an orderly closure of schools and church settings (except to allow for things such as funerals with a small number of people in attendance) in these communities by Wednesday, December 2. An order to this effect will be forthcoming and will be effective December 2, 2020. 

The rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Waterloo Region among members of these communities in Waterloo Region is concerning. A collaborative response is underway to slow the spread. Rural community partners and members have come together to support adoption of public health measures, testing and isolating as needed.

“We have benefited from the support of community leaders and many individual members of these Mennonite communities. Unfortunately, we have encountered insufficient cooperation among a number of individuals with public health requirements, including the requirements to self-isolate, not attend work when sick, and identify high-risk contacts for Public Health,” said Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang. “As a result, orders are being issued as the risk to the community as a whole, as well as to other people with whom community members interact, has become too high.”

Under the order, those who do not comply can be given a $750 ticket or a Part III summons with fines reaching up to $5,000 per day.

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For media information, please contact:

Julie Kalbfleisch, Manager, Information and Communications jkalbfleisch@regionofwaterloo.ca