OPP has charged more than 30 people with COVID-19 restriction-related charges in Kirkland Lake.
To slow the spread of the virus, Ontario is currently in a state of emergency and there is a stay-at-home order.
The Kirkland Lake charges stem from a large gathering, traffic stop and further charges have been laid after a protest, according to police.
Most of the charges are from May 9 when OPP say officers broke up a house party at a Harding Avenue residence.
Police charged 23 people with:
- Individual - Fail to Comply with a Continued Section 7.0.2 Order, contrary to section 10(1) of the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA)
Two of those people were also charged with:
- Obstruct Any Person Performing a Duty in Accordance with a Continued Section 7.0.2 Order, contrary to section 10 of the ROA
- Obstruct Peace Officer, contrary to section 129(a) of the Criminal Code
One of the people living in the house was also charged with hosting or organizing the gathering.
In another incident, Kirkland Lake OPP officers doing traffic enforcement on Highway 112 stopped a vehicle with four people inside.
The police investigation revealed the people were from different households and travelling for non-essential purposes.
The four people were charged with:
- Individual - Fail to Comply with a Continued Section 7.0.2 Order, contrary to section 10(1) of the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA)
Eight people have also been charged with failing to comply with the emergency order after a protest at Kinross Pond.
Kirkland Lake is part of the Timiskaming Health Unit.
To date, there have been 197 confirmed the region. Of those, 184 are resolved and two people have died. there are 11 known active cases.
