Minden restaurant closes after failing to comply with COVID-19 regulations

A Minden restaurant has closed after failing to comply with COVID-19 regulations, according to a media release from the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit issued on Thursday (December 30).

On December 14, the health unit served the owner of Minden’s 50 Diner, located at 12311 Highway 35 in Minden, with a Section 22 order under the province’s Health Protection and Promotion Act. The order required the owner to comply with all provincial measures for restaurants required by the Reopening Ontario Act, and associated regulations, or to close the premises.

The health unit issued the Section 22 order after receiving multiple complaints about the restaurant not following provincial COVID-19 regulations. Health unit staff visited the restaurant multiple times to provide information and education to the owner before progressing to further enforcement measures.

On December 19, the restaurant posted on its Facebook page that it was no longer providing dine-in service.

“Unfortunately we can not willingly participate in this vaccine passport segregation that is taking place,” the Facebook post reads in part.

On December 23, a Superior Court judge made an order, with the consent of the parties, that the restaurant remain closed until further order of the court.

“Because patrons are not always fully masked while in a food premise, the province’s Reopening Ontario Act requires that restaurants take additional actions to prevent spread of COVID-19,” says medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking in the media release. “By not complying with provincial regulations for indoor masking and proof of vaccination, operators put their staff and customers at risk.”

“We are grateful to the many operators in our region who continue to work with HKPR in meeting the provincial requirements and helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Bocking adds.