It was a quiet New Year’s Eve for city police and they says that's likely due to the COVID restrictions that were put into place for Ontario close to two weeks ago.
On what is a typically busy night for local officers, Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said there was one impaired driving charge, a 34-year-old Barrie man, as a result of a driving complaint received in the Girdwood Drive and Brucker Road area, near Essa and Mapleview, at 2:35 a.m.
“There was nothing else significant, just one 19-year-old male arrested for being intoxicated in a common area,” Leon said. “He was held until sobering up.”
Leon said it was clear why the number of police calls was so minimal.
“It would appear as if people were listening to our public health officials, and with no public events available due to the emergence of the omicron variant, plans were likely adjusted and modified in the hope of reducing the potential for its spread,” he said.
The province announced new restrictions to curb the spread of the variant, restrictions that took place on Dec. 19, one of which was that alcohol sales will be restricted after 10 p.m.
There is also a 50 per cent capacity limit for indoor public settings, including restaurants, bars, a maximum of 10 people per table at restaurants or meeting and event spaces is all that is allowed.
With New Year’s Eve historically being a busy night for bars and events, the new restrictions required people to remain seated while at the establishments. Dancing and singing are also prohibited except for workers or performers.
