Remember, too, you’ll be able to hop on a Barrie Transit bus for free until May 31.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Barrie has extended the free service once again. It has offered rides at no-charge since March 20.

Buses will continue to run on an hourly service, from about 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily, Monday to Saturday. The Sunday schedule will remain hourly, going from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“Our goal is to maintain service coverage throughout the entire city and the daily hours of operation we provide today,” city transit director Brent Forsyth said recently. “By moving to hourly service, we can provide a sustainable and reliable schedule that riders can depend on during these times. It’s extremely important we maintain this critical service so people can get to essential workplaces and grocery shopping.”

Daily ridership has decreased nearly 70 per cent since the start of the pandemic, the city says.

To encourage physical distancing, riders must board the bus at the back doors — though anyone with accessibility needs can still get on at the front. Every second seat is taped off and ridership is limited to 15 passengers per bus. Staff also increased disinfection practices on all buses.

The Maple Avenue transit terminal will remain closed until further notice.

Staff recommend residents visit MyRideBarrie.ca before heading out to catch a bus, since there may be intermittent service issues on some routes. As well, avoid all unnecessary travel. Do not use public transit if you are feeling unwell or have travelled outside Canada within the past 14 days.

And a traditional sign of spring won’t be arriving on driveways around Barrie any time soon.

As part of the city’s ongoing effort to stop the spread of the virus, all yard sales have been banned within the municipality until further notice. This is to prevent large groups from gathering.

“The community needs vigilance now,” city chief administrative officer Michael Prowse said during a virtual general committee meeting April 15. “Lowering our guard could have fatal implications. We are going to need everyone together. Now is the critical time to flatten the curve.”

Barrie will also cancel all special events and sport field bookings until at least June 30. City-run community centres and theatres will also stay closed during that time.

As well, beaches have been closed indefinitely.

Residents also appear to be taking a cautious approach to city day camp registration. By this time last year, the municipality had more than 6,100 campers signed up. That number has dropped to 2,500 in 2020.

“That is probably sound judgment,” Prowse said. “(But) we need to start planning for when this starts to subside. Things such as day camps, we can’t just turn a switch. They take four or five weeks to ramp up. Any reactivation of our community is going to be (planned).”

Recently, the city cancelled the spring session for registered recreation programming.

This is the latest step in the city's effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Mayor Jeff Lehman signed an emergency bylaw April 3 that prohibits some activities and regulates physical distancing practices within the municipality.

Fines levied against individuals can range from $500 to $100,000 for each offence.

“I've signed into law an emergency order bylaw to enforce distancing, to require it of businesses, and making it an offence to use playgrounds or other park amenities,” he said in a statement. “A difficult step but this is the time for maximum effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Barrie is continuing to ensure our citizens stay home and safe. We all need take this seriously now for the health of our families, our friends and our community. If you have to go out for essential needs, only send one member of the household, stay apart and be safe."

Under the rules, people must maintain a two-metre distance from each other on public property. And businesses will need to operate in a manner that allows folks to be sitting or standing at least two metres apart. In both cases, exceptions will be made for people who live within the same household.

Use of city-owned playgrounds, benches, pavilions, shelters, off-leash dog parks, picnic areas, community gardens and outdoor fitness equipment and sports facilities (including tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, soccer fields, skateboard parks and the disc golf course) will also be banned.

Barrie has set up a dedicated COVID-19 Enforcement Line for the public to report instances of non-compliance with the COVID-19 emergency orders.

Members of the public can call the COVID-19 Enforcement Line at 705-739-4241 or email at enforcement.services@barrie.ca.

The city will investigate the following:

• Use of city-owned amenities (including playground structures, skateparks, etc.).

• Gatherings of five or more people in a public space.

• Non-essential businesses that are providing in-person services to the public.

Enforcement staff are currently conducting proactive patrols of all city parks. It is an offence to fail to comply with an emergency order — the maximum punishment is one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual, $500,000 for a director of a corporation, or $10 million for a corporation.

Phone call volumes to the COVID-19 Enforcement Line may require you to leave a message. Please note that calls or emails received after 8 p.m. may be actioned the next day depending on available resources. For emergency matters, please call 911.

Once received, the complaints will be tracked and addressed by bylaw enforcement officers, in collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Public Health Inspectors and the Barrie Police Service.

Barrie is taking further action to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Recently, the city closed skateboard and off-leash dog parks, tennis and basketball courts and picnic areas and pavilions until further notice, due to the pandemic. Outdoor equipment cannot be "regularly sanitized," city spokesperson Scott LaMantia said.

“Parks remain open at this time,” he said in a statement. “However, (residents) are reminded to follow the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s recommendations to avoid crowds and maintain a distance of two metres from those around you. This is a serious situation and we need to all come together to adhere to the direction from public health.”

In late March, city council met for the first time since Lehman declared a state of emergency. The meeting included an update on the local effect of COVID-19 from city chief administrative officer Michael Prowse and approval of a plan to expand the number of garbage bag tags permitted per household until the end of June.

Residents can watch future meetings through the city’s YouTube channel or on RogersTV.

Meeting agenda are available at barrie.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

Remote council, committee and local board meetings are permitted under the Ontario government’s Municipal Emergency Act, which was passed earlier this month.

And in an effort to keep curbside waste collection drivers safe, the city is asking residents to place facial tissue, paper towel and napkins in securely tied garbage bags, instead of green bins.

“We also remind residents to sort garbage, green bin and recycling material properly, and ensure that cleaning wipes go in the garbage,” LaMantia said. “They cannot go in the green bin and should not be flushed.”

All collection trucks are equipped with sanitizer and the contractor has masks and gloves available for all collectors, he said.

Barrie has also cancelled its annual Spring into Clean events due to the pandemic.

Before heading out to catch a city bus, consult MyRideBarrie.ca, as Barrie Transit may be experiencing intermittent service issues on some routes.

“One thing that is critical for people at this time is the ability to ride the bus to get basic things like groceries or get to jobs that we rely on at this time,” Prowse said. “Offering free transit creates opportunity to have riders board from back door, which reduces risk to transit operators and further supports social distancing.”

In addition to free transit, the city will not charge new late fees or city imposed non-sufficient funds (NSF) charges for tax and water/wastewater bills until June 30, 2020. Residents and property owners can opt out or suspend pre-authorized payment plans (PAP) for property taxes and water wastewater bills. Complete an online form at www.barrie.ca/WaterServices.

In addition, no water shut-offs will be carried out until June 30.

“The city recognizes that since residents are social distancing and staying in more, there are several impacts to our day to day life,” Lehman said. “Where possible, we will look for ways to help reduce these impacts by changing policies and operations. These are extraordinary times, but I want all residents to know that your city will continue to respond to this crisis with compassion.”

OTHER CHANGES:

- Overnight parking restrictions will no longer be enforced to encourage and support residents to stay at home to prevent further spread of COVID-19. If there is a winter event, the city will ask all residents to remove vehicles from the road to allow snow maintenance vehicles to properly clear the roads. The city will communicate a winter event on barrie.ca/snow.

- The noise bylaw related to deliveries will not be enforced. This will allow grocery and other stores to receive deliveries of essential services and/or perishables at any time.

- The municipality has closed most of its facilities to the public indefinitely. The buildings remain open to staff for essential service delivery. That includes city hall (70 Collier St.), Provincial Offences Act offices (45 Cedar Pointe Dr. and 575 West St. S. in Orillia), the operations (165 Ferndale Dr. N.) and landfill and environmental (272 Ferndale Dr. N.) centres, water surface treatment plant (20 Royal Parkside Dr.) and the wastewater treatment facility (249 Bradford St.). Curbside waste collection will still occur as scheduled. All room bookings at city hall, including the Barrie Farmers’ Market, have been cancelled until further notice.

- Upcoming ward, planning and advisory meetings are cancelled.

- City staff visits that involve entering residents’ homes (site inspections, bylaw enforcement and water meter reading, for example) are now restricted to emergency trips only.

- The Parkview and Allandale 55+ centres are closed until further notice. All preschool and child-care programs are cancelled indefinitely; March Break camps were dropped, with full refunds being processed as soon as possible.

For more, visit the city’s COVID-19 page at barrie.ca.