PROVINCE WIDE LOCKDOWN – Stay at Home Order in Effect*
The Ontario Government has declared a state of emergency. In addition to this, the Government has issued a stay-at-home order which will came into effect as of Thursday January 14th at 12:01am. These measures will remain in effect until February 11th.
The stay-at-home order requires everyone to stay home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy. accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work. Travel is not permitted during this time. This order was issued to limit people’s mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household. Businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does so. Please click here to view the Stay-at-Home regulations.
The following new COVID-19 restrictions will also apply:
- Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are restricted to a limit of five people.
- Individuals are required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance.
- All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
- Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.
All accommodation types (hotels, motels, lodges, resorts, cabins, cottages, etc.) will only be allowed to be open for those in need of housing during the emergency period (i.e. essential workers, those in need of a place to self-isolate). Bookings taken prior to January 14th will not be permitted unless they are providing necessary housing as referenced above. The Government also added a stipulation surrounding ice fishing huts. You may rent ice huts for day use only to members of the same household however no overnight accommodations.
These COVID-19 orders will be enforceable under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA) and amendments to the regulations under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.
Under the declaration of the state of emergency, the province will provide authority to all enforcement and provincial offences officers including OPP, local police forces, bylaw officers and provincial workplace inspectors to issue tickets to those not complying with the stay-at-home order, or not wearing a face mask indoors and businesses who do not enforce COVID-19 regulations. Those who decide not to abide by orders will be subject to set fines and/or prosecution under both Acts.
In addition, all enforcement personnel will have the authority to temporarily close a premise and disperse individuals who are in contravention of an order, and will be able to disperse people who are gathering, regardless if a premise has been closed or remains open.
Click here to read all the State of Emergency measures.