Barriers at escarpment stairs damaged as some people ignore pleas to maintain distancing

Some of the barriers preventing people from using the escarpment stairs were damaged over the weekend by those ignoring COVID-19 restrictions according to the city of Hamilton.

Paul Johnson, director of the city's emergency operations centre, said on Monday while most are still following the rules meant to stop the spread of the virus, some are continuing to ignore the orders.

"I don't know how much simpler we can make it. You hear people say sometimes, 'Well it's confusing.' Let me tell you, at the stairs, there is no confusion that they are closed, I've been by and there has been no confusion," he said during a virtual media briefing.

"I get some people say, 'It's not near me, it's been in other places, in other facilities,' but I would think people would understand it's not our intent to keep things closed for any other reason other than we don't believe they're safe to open up just yet," he explained.

The Hamilton Conversation Authority has also noted problems with people trying to access local closed waterfalls, trespassing and parking illegally to gain access.

"HCA and City of Hamilton waterfalls remain closed. The parking lot gates are posted and locked. If we can't get people to recognize closed parking lots, how can we consider reopening waterfall locations for physical distancing," Gord Costie, director of conservation area services, wrote in a statement to CBC News.

Johnson said there has been an uptick in bylaw infractions related to physical distancing. Before, Hamilton had just a couple of tickets handed out — now the number is at 16.

"We didn't see the same egregious examples other communities saw, but this is going to be that constant messaging of 'You need to stay physically separated, it is the way we stop the transmission,' " he explained.

Johnson said while he thinks enforcement and education are the best ways to encourage physical distancing, he and public health discuss what alternatives are available if the situation worsens.

For now, there are no plans of reverting back to more closures.

"I just don't think that's anywhere on anyone's radar right now, we're going to still encourage those messages and have people do the right thing and it will work out, I'm confident of that actually," he said.

"Ultimately, this is in people's hands. We have lots of space in Hamilton to physically distance, to enjoy amenities. It may be you arrive somewhere and it just might be a little too busy in that one place, but there are other places to go and other ways to enjoy Hamilton."