With the final Friday the 13th of 2020 upon us, provincial police are reminding those planning to mark the day in Port Dover about COVID-19 health restrictions.
Norfolk OPP said face masks should be worn at all times, hands should be sanitized frequently, and a distance of two metres should be maintained between revelers who don't live in the same house. Police added that no one should gather in groups larger than ten when indoors or larger than 25 when outdoors. That is in accordance with current provincial limits on social gathering sizes.
"The Norfolk County OPP is encouraging everyone to put their safety as a priority and to adhere to the current restrictions that are in place for everyone's safety," said OPP Detachment Commander and Inspector Joseph Varga.
He went on to urge drivers to take extra care on the roads by watching for motorcycles heading to the Norfolk County town.
"The motoring public is being asked to take those two extra seconds before making a lane change or proceeding through an intersection due to the possibility of increased traffic. Those two seconds can make the difference between life and death," said Varga.
Typically the day sees thousands of motorcyclists descend on Port Dover. However, the number expected to attend the unsanctioned gathering on Friday remains to be seen. County council voted last month to put measures in place to discourage bikers from showing up. Those measures included denying vendor permits on both county and private property.
An information website about the Friday the 13th gathering also asked people to stay away this time around due to the pandemic.
"As informal gatherings like Friday the 13th can develop into super-spreader events, the local Medical Officer of Health is encouraging people not to attend the event this year to avoid any spread of the COVID-19 virus," the site reads.
Haldimand-Norfolk is currently under the "yellow-protect" level of the province's five-tiered system for COVID-19 shutdowns.
The last Friday the 13th gathering was held in March, just days before the province went into lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19.
