Northwestern Ontario will have to wait to reopen.
Minister of Health Christine Elliott says a Stay-at-Home Order has been extended for our area and Thunder Bay until Tuesday, February 16 at 12:01 am.
“While we have seen some progress, the risk remains high. COVID-19 variants are now spreading in Ontario and remain a significant threat to controlling the pandemic in all areas of the province including those currently with low transmission.”
Elliott adds the situation in our hospitals remains precarious.
She stresses we must remain vigilant but they will be moving to a colour-coded regional reopening plan.
Three southern Ontario regions will be allowed to reopen on Wednesday.
-Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Health
-Hasting Prince Edward Public Health
-Renfrew County and District Health Unit
The lockdown will stay in effect in Toronto, Peel Region and York Region until at least February 22.
Health officials say, however, that these dates are amendable and will be “subject to review” based on numbers and health indicators.
“Our number one priority will always be protecting the health and safety of all individuals, families and workers across the province,” says Premier Doug Ford. “But we must also consider the severe impact COVID-19 is having on our businesses. That’s why we have been listening to business owners, and we are strengthening and adjusting the Framework to allow more businesses to safely reopen and get people back to work.”
Ford adds he won’t hesitate to reimplement a lockdown if regional COVID numbers spike.
The province-wide shutdown was implemented on Boxing Day.
The Northwestern Health Unit is expected to return to the Yellow-Protect stage.
That would mean strengthened measures:
•Enhanced targeted enforcement, fines and enhanced education to limit further transmission.
•Apply public health measures in high risk settings.
Here is the breakdown from the province what that means for us is we are allowed to reopen on February 16:
Organized public events, social gatherings and wedding, funeral and religious services, rites and ceremonies
•Limits for certain organized public events and social gatherings such as functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, barbeques or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, or parks, where physical distancing can be maintained: ◦10 people indoors
◦25 people outdoors
•Limits for organized public events and gatherings in staffed businesses and facilities, where physical distancing can be maintained: ◦50 people indoors
◦100 people outdoors
•Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, where physical distancing can be maintained (applies in any venue other than a private dwelling): ◦30% capacity of the room indoors
◦100 people outdoors
Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments
•Require patrons to be seated; 2 metres minimum or impermeable barrier required between tables
•Limit of 6 people may be seated together
•No buffet style service
•Line-ups and patrons congregating outside venues managed by venue; 2 metres distance and face covering required
•Patron screening (passive)
•Require contact information for all seated patrons
•Face coverings required except when eating or drinking only
•Establishments must be closed from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.
•Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
•No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
•Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible
•Dancing, singing and performing music is permitted, with restrictions
•Karaoke permitted, with restrictions (including no private rooms)
•Personal protective equipment, including eye protection, required when a worker must come within 2 metres of another person who is not wearing a face covering
•Night clubs only permitted to operate as restaurant or bar
•A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
Sports and recreational fitness facilities
•Maintain 2 metres physical distancing, unless engaged in a sport
•Increase spacing between patrons to 3 metres for areas of a sport or recreational facility where there are weights or exercise equipment and in exercise and fitness classes
•Capacity limits per venue, where physical distancing can be maintained: ◦50 people in indoor classes, however each indoor fitness or exercise class can only have a maximum of 10 people and must take place in a separate room or
◦100 people in outdoor classes, however each outdoor fitness or exercise class can only have a maximum of 25 people
◦50 people indoors in areas with weights or exercise equipment
◦50 spectators indoors or 100 outdoors
•Patron screening (passive)
•Capacity limits apply on a per-room basis if operating in compliance with a plan approved by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Guidance for Facilities for Sport and Recreational Fitness Activities During COVID-19covid 19)
•Team or individual sports must be modified to avoid physical contact with an exemption for high performance athletes, including parasport athletes, and professional leagues; maximum 50 people per league
•Exemptions for high performance athletes and parasports
•Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible; measures to prevent shouting by both instructors and members of the public
•Face coverings required except when exercising or playing sports
•Require contact information for all members of the public that enter the facility
•Require reservation for entry; one reservation for teams
•A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
Meeting and event spaces
•Capacity limit for the venue, where physical distancing can be maintained: ◦50 people indoors or
◦100 people outdoors
•Booking multiple rooms for the same event not permitted
•Patron screening (passive)
•Maximum of 50 people per room indoors if venue operates in accordance with the approved plan from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Guidance for Meeting and Event Facilities During COVID-19covid 19)
•Limits for wedding, funeral and religious services, rites or ceremonies apply if held in meeting and event spaces: ◦30% capacity of the room indoors
◦100 people outdoors
•Establishments must be closed from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.
•Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
•No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
•Require contact information for all seated patrons
•Limit of 6 people may be seated together
•Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible
•A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
•Exceptions for court and government services
Retail
New for Yellow-Protect as of February 2021:
•Stores must have passive screening for patrons (for example, posting signs outside the store front about not entering if you have COVID-19covid 19 symptoms) ◦This does not apply to indoor malls, which will have to do screening in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
•A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
•Fitting rooms must be limited to non-adjacent stalls
•Line-ups and patrons congregating outside venues managed by venue; 2 metres distance and face covering required
•Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible
•For malls, a safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
Personal care services
•Oxygen bars, steam rooms and saunas closed
•Require contact information from all patrons
•Patron screening (passive)
•A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments
•Maximum of 50 people per facility permitted, where physical distancing can be maintained
•Patron screening (passive)
•Table games are prohibited
•Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
•No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
•Require contact information from all patrons
•A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
Cinemas
•Capacity limits per venue, where physical distancing can be maintained: ◦50 people indoors or
◦100 outdoors
•50 people per indoor auditorium if cinema operates in accordance with the approved plan from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Guidance for Movie Theatres During COVID-19covid 19)
•Face coverings except when eating or drinking only
•Drive-in cinemas permitted to operate, subject to restrictions
•Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
•No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
•Patron screening (passive)
•Require contact information from all patrons
•A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
Performing arts facilities
•Capacity limits per venue, where physical distancing can be maintained: ◦50 spectators indoors or
◦100 spectators outdoors
•Singers and players of wind or brass instruments must be separated from spectators by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier
•Rehearsal or performing a recorded or broadcasted event permitted
•Performers and employees must maintain 2 metres physical distance except for purposes of the performance
•Drive-in performances permitted
•Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
•No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
•Patron screening (passive)
•Require contact information from all patrons
•A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
