IMPORTANT NOTICE
The Ontario Government has declared a state of emergency and extended the Province-wide Shutdown in Northern Ontario until at least February 11, 2021.
The Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework is currently on hold for the duration of the shutdown.
Some shutdown requirements are outlined below. Details can be found on the Ministry of Ontario Enhancing Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures in the Provincewide Shutdown website.
Restaurants, bars, and other drink establishments are permitted to open:
- For takeout, drive through, and delivery only.
- This includes the sale of alcohol.
Supermarkets, convenience stores, indoor farmer’s markets and other stores that primarily sell food may be open for in-person retail, subject to:
- Patrons must be able to maintain 2 metres physical distance from every other person.
- Patrons must comply with face covering rules.
- The number of persons in any room open to the public cannot exceed 50% capacity.
- Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted.
Discount and big box retailers that sell groceries may open for in-person retail, subject to:
- Patrons must be able to maintain 2 metres physical distance from every other person.
- The number of persons in any room open to the public cannot exceed 25% capacity.
- Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted.
Stores that sell liquor, including beer, wine and spirits must limit the number of persons in any room open to the public to 25% capacity. Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted. Operating hours are limited to 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Shopping malls must be closed for in-person retail. Members of the public are only permitted to enter the mall to:
- Access businesses and organizations permitted to be open (e.g., pharmacy, dentist); food court open for take-away, or by appointment only to facilitate pick-up as set out below.
- Access court services and government services.
Members of the public not permitted to loiter in any area of the shopping mall that is not related to the purpose of their visit.
Shopping mall may establish:
- A single designated location inside the shopping mall for order pick-up by patrons. Pick-up inside the shopping mall must be by appointment only.
- Any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall for curbside pick-up by patrons.
Shopping malls must open no earlier than 7:00 a.m. and close no later than 8:00 p.m., except to provide access to grocery stores/supermarkets, pharmacies, and health care providers that only have public entrances that face the interior of the mall.
Pharmacies may be open for in-person retail, subject to:
- Patrons must be able to maintain 2 metres physical distance from every other person.
- Patrons must comply with face covering rules.
- The number of persons in any room open to the public cannot exceed 50% capacity.
- Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted.
Safety supply stores, businesses that sell, rent or repair assistive/mobility/medical devices, and optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public may be open:
- By appointment only.
- The number of persons in any room open to the public cannot exceed 50% capacity.
- Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted.
- Operating hours are limited to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Gas stations and fuel suppliers may open without restrictions.
General Retail (all other retail, including hardware stores, pet food, computer stores, etc.):
- Curbside pick-up or delivery only (in-person retail shopping not permitted).
- An item may only be provided for curbside pick-up if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premisis.
- Sales must be exclusively made so patrons are not required to enter the indoor area of the business, including curbside pick-up or delivery.
- Operating hours are limited to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Personal service settings including hairstyling and barbering, tattooing, micropigmentation, ear and body piercing, electrolysis, nail salons, and aesthetic services must remain closed for the duration of the Provincewide Shutdown.
There are special considerations for worksites that provide communal living arrangements for staff, such as mines in remote locations:
- Infection prevention and control measures should be followed. All workers and essential visitors should be instructed to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and inform their supervisor as soon as they begin to feel unwell. Workers and essential visitors should be screened at the start and end of each shift.
- Instruct staff who answer YES to any screening questions to go home, self-isolate immediately and call the Assessment Centre nearest them or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
- When it is not possible for staff experiencing symptoms to go home, immediately place them away from others and call TBDHU for further direction. Be prepared to support staff to access testing and safely self-isolate.
- Wherever possible, provide separate rooms, units or an alternate shelter location for the purpose of self-isolation. Ideally, this location would also have a separate washroom.
- Encourage staff in self-isolation to keep a 2 metre distance from others and to wear a mask (especially in indoor public settings and public transportation). Ensure staff are educated on the proper use of masks and have access to clean masks.
- If separate isolation rooms are not possible, mitigate risk of transmission through other means (e.g. group isolation in a separate room or floor, spacing and placement of beds or furnishings, temporary physical barriers between beds, frequent cleaning and disinfection routines). Open windows to increase ventilation.
Healthcare organizations that are permitted to provide service include:
- Organizations and providers that deliver home care services or personal support services to seniors and persons with disabilities.
- Regulated health professionals.
- Professionals or organizations that provide in-person counselling services.
- Organizations that provide health care including retirement homes, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, independent health facilities and mental health and addictions counselling supports.
- Laboratories and specimen collection centres.
- Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies, including medications, medical isotopes, vaccines and antivirals, medical devices and medical supplies.
- Manufacturers, distributors and businesses that provide logistical support of or for products and/or services that support the delivery of health care in all locations.
- Organizations that provide critical personal support services in home or residential services for individuals with physical disabilities.
- Organizations that support the provision of food, shelter, safety or protection, and/or social services and other necessities of life to economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable individuals.
- Businesses that are primarily engaged in the provision of health and safety training with conditions.
More information for health care workers can be found on the TBDHU COVID-19 for Health Care Providers page and in the Public Services Health and Safety Association COVID-19 guidance documents and resources.
The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario has released guidelines for dentists: COVID-19: Managing Infection Risks During In-Person Care.
Public Services Health and Safety Association has released Health and Safety Guidance during COVID-19 for Dental Offices.
Schools and Child Care
- Please visit the Safe Return page for current information and resources.
Day Camps
- Must remain closed for the duration of the Province-wide Shutdown.
Facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness activities
Closure of all indoor and outdoor sports and recreational fitness facilities except for:
- facilities operated or for the sole use of high performance athletes, including parasport athletes, and specified professional leagues (e.g.,NHL, CFL, MLS, NBA) and
- facilities opened solely for specified purposes (e.g. child care).
Community centres and multi-purpose facilities (e.g., YMCA) allowed to be open for permitted activities (e.g., child care services, mental health and addiction support services [limited to 10 people maximum], social services).
No person is permitted to use an indoor recreational amenity that is required to be closed.
All subject to conditions.
Outdoor recreational amenities
No person is permitted to use an outdoor recreational amenity that is required to be closed.
- Ski hills are closed.
Outdoor recreational amenities permitted to open, subject to conditions, include (weather permitting):
- Parks and recreational areas
- Baseball diamonds
- Batting cages
- Soccer, football and sports fields
- Tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts
- Basketball courts
- BMX parks
- Skate parks
- Golf courses and driving ranges
- Frisbee golf locations
- Cycling tracks and bike trails
- Horse riding facilities
- Shooting ranges, including those operated by rod and gun clubs
- Ice rinks
- Snowmobile, cross country ski, dogsledding, ice-skating and snow-shoe trails
- Playgrounds
- Portions of parks or recreational areas containing outdoor fitness equipment
- Tobogganing hills and skating trails
- A permitted outdoor recreational amenity may only open if:
- any person who enters or uses the amenity maintains a physical distance of at least two metres from other person using the amenity (excluding members of the same household).
- team sports, or other sports or games where people may come within two metres of each other, are not practiced or played within the amenity.
- any locker rooms, change rooms, showers and clubhouses remain closed, except to the extent they provide access to equipment storage, a washroom or a portion of the amenity that is used to provide first aid.
Must remain closed for the duration of the Provincewide Shutdown.
Must remain closed for the duration of the Provincewide Shutdown, including drive-in and drive-through events.
The Ontario government, in partnership with Ontario’s health and safety associations, has released more than 170 health and safety guidance resources covering a wide range of workplaces.