Thirty-person party ‘egregious’ example of people flouting COVID rules: Hamilton official

A 30-person party allegedly hosted at an Airbnb this weekend was yet another egregious" example of people flouting pandemic rules, says a city official.

According to the City of Hamilton, the owner of an Airbnb located at 873 King St. E. was charged six times under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) on Saturday. Charges included: hosting an indoor gathering of more than five people; not screening attendees for COVID; not conducting contact tracing; not enforcing physical distancing; not having a safety plan; and obstructing officers.

In the red zone, indoor gatherings of more than five people are illegal.

This was again one of those egregious examples," said Paul Johnson, Hamilton's director of the Emergency Operations Centre, at a Monday media briefing. On top of it, just the cherry on top of it, (those gathered were) obstructing us in trying to do our job when we arrived."

Johnson had few details about the gathering but called it a social event." Each ROA infraction comes with a $750 fine. Attendees may also have been fined, Johnson said.

The Spectator reached out to Airbnb for comment late Monday but did not hear back by deadline.

Charges are not convictions and may be challenged in court.

The city now posts information on its website each Monday about businesses charged with breaking COVID-related laws. The move came in the wake of public outrage last month after the city slammed a Stoney Creek restaurant for allegedly flouting COVID rules but refused to name it. City councillors then voted to make more information public in early November, likely making Hamilton one of the most transparent cities when it comes to disclosing information about law-breaking businesses.

Some businesses have recently raised concerns about the city being too heavy-handed in issuing fines.

Johnson has said the time for education is over and enforcement is now in full effect.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com