Enforcing physical distancing 'not even a possibility' at large Wasaga Beach car rally

Ontario Provincial Police say enforcing physical distancing at a large car meet in Wasaga Beach on Saturday was an impossible task aftermore thana thousand car enthusiasts flockedto the beach town for a weekendof street racing and stunts.

Social media posts from the scene on Saturday eveningcaptured footage of the gathering you can watch some of that in the video below:

Social media footage captures large crowds, street racing at Wasaga Beach car meet

4 years ago

Duration 0:44

Despite a heavy police presence, hundreds gathered in close proximity for a car meet in Wasaga Beach on Saturday.

Officers from Peel Regional Police, York Regional Police and OPP had been prepared for the event and assisted in enforcing restrictions.

"There was a large police presence becausewe knew they were coming," said OPP Sgt. Dan Hunter.

ButHunter said enforcing physical distancing among the "huge"crowd was "not even a possibility."

Instead, he said police focused on hampering stunt driving and street racing.

Arrests, charges laid

Although he didn't givea specific number, Hunter said multiple arrests and charges were laid against individuals who attended the event.

Police say multiple cars were also seized.

"We did take enforcement action," Huntersaid.

Despite the fact that police were prepared for a large turnout, he said the nature of the gathering was troubling.

"We are obviously concerned, especiallysince theReopening OntarioActand all the limitations that changed on September 19," Hunter said, referring to the province's new restrictions on gathering sizes.

Private socialgatherings across Ontario are nowlimited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, though the turnout was much higher at Saturday's rally.

This comes as Ontario reported 435 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday and 491Sunday, the highest number since May 2, when 511 new cases were reported.

TheSimcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, which includes the town of Wasaga Beach, reported eight new cases on Sunday.

Town closed to visitors

To help curtail the high number of car enthusiasts pouring into WasagaBeach,OPP Sgt. Jason Folz said police and other officialsmade the decision Saturday eveningto closethe town'sborders to any outside visitors.

Folz said officersenforced this by creating various checkpoints across town and asking for identification from people to prove that they actually lived in the area.

Anyone from out of town was ordered to leave by officers.

"It is going to spread COVID-19, that will happen," FolztoldCBC News of the rally.

"Therewill bean ongoing investigation into this this doesn't end this weekend," he said, adding that officers will be looking into who organized the rally.

"I don't think it's over just because the cars have left."