Public health experts are raising their eyebrows at Ontario's decision to restrict outdoor gatherings, saying the latest evidence suggests the measures won't do much to cut down on COVID-19 transmission.
Premier Doug Ford announced Friday that only members of the same household would be able to congregate outdoors as part of a suite of measures meant to bolster the province's losing battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
Police have been granted sweeping new powers to enforce the rules.
They'll be able to stop cars or pedestrians at random to check on their reason for being out and request their home address.
Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician with St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, says limiting outdoor gatherings could ``shoot (the government) in the foot.''
He says it could push people who would otherwise gather outdoors to congregate inside, where they won't be so easily detected by police.