Basketball nets are being covered in plastic in Ontario

In accordance with Ontario's new stay at home order, the City of Markham has closed all outdoor recreation spaces and resorted to wrapping outdoor basketball hoops in plastic in order to stop citizens from using the amenities. The plastic wrap was discovered Wednesday by park patrons.

Ontario issued a new stay at home order on April 17 that closed outdoor facilities like golf courses, play grounds, basketball courts and more. Ontario has also set up border check points with neighbouring provinces, given police powers to stop anyone outside their homes and closed businesses deemed non-essential including construction projects.

This stay at home order has faced backlash for limiting outdoor activity because outdoor activity has been widely accepted as much safer than gathering indoor. Premier Doug Ford was forced to retract part of the restrictions and allow children to play at play-structures. It is unclear which outdoor parks are affected by the changing guidelines.

Markham has cancelled all scheduled indoor and outdoor recreation activities and has closed outdoor parks in accordance with the provincial COVID-19 guidelines. This is in line with municipalities across Ontario as they attempt to comply with the stricter guidelines.

The city of Markham did not respond to a request for comment on the pictures.