Toronto, Peel move to Grey-Lockdown: How the rules change now that the stay-at-home order is over
The stay-at-home order is no longer in effect in Toronto and Peel, moving to the Grey-Lockdown level in Ontario's COVID-19 response framework on Monday, March 8.
"Our government is taking a safe and cautious approach to returning to the Framework and due to our progress, all regions of the province will soon be out of the provincewide shutdown," a statement from Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, reads. "Despite this positive step forward, a return to the Framework is not a return to normal.
"As we continue vaccinating more Ontarians, it remains critical for everyone to continue to follow public health measures and stay home as much as possible to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities."
In Toronto, case rates have decreased by 15.7 per cent to 66.4 cases per 100,000 people and hospitalizations have seen an 11.2 per cent decrease, from Feb. 23 to March 2. In the same time period, Peel's case rates increased by 6.6 per cent to 91.4 cases per 100,000 people.
North Bay Parry Sound will also be returning to the framework but in the Red-Control level of restrictions, on the same date.
Changes are also being made to seven other public health regions, which will move into the following levels of the framework:
Red-Control
Peterborough Public Health
Public Health Sudbury and Districts
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
Orange-Restrict
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Timiskaming Health Unit
Yellow-Protect
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Renfrew County and District Health Unit
"While all regions have returned to the Framework, everyone must remain vigilant to help prevent any further increases in transmission," a statement from Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, reads.
"The best defense against the virus and all of its variants of concern remains continuing to stay at home, avoiding social gatherings, only travelling outside of your community for essential purposes, and limiting close contacts to your household or those you live with."
What do each of the level of Ontario's reopening framework include?
Grey-Lockdown
Organized events and social gatherings: No indoor organized public events and social gatherings are allowed, except with members of the same household (anyone who lives alone can connect with one other household), outdoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people
Religious ceremonies: Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, are restricted to 10 people indoors or 100 people outdoors
Meeting and event spaces: Only child care and day camps for children, court services, government services, mental health and addiction support services (maximum of 10 people) and provision of social services can operate
Restaurants: Indoor and outdoor dining is prohibited, takeout and delivery services can continue
Sports and recreational facilities: Facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness must be closed, with the exception of high performance athletes and specified professional leagues (ex. NHL, CFL, MLS, NBA)
Retail: In-person retail services are permitted at 50 per cent capacity for stores that primarily sell groceries, convenience stores and pharmacies, and 25 per cent capacity for all other retail, including discount and big box retailers, liquor stores, hardware stores and garden centres
Other businesses operations: Personal care services, cinemas, casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments, amusement parks, water parks must remain close, performing arts facilities can operate without spectators, veterinary services can continue, cannabis stores are restricted to curb-side pick-up and delivery, domestic and cleaning and maintenance services are permitted
Red-Control
Organized events and social gatherings: All organized public events and social gatherings are limited to five people indoors and 25 people outdoors
Religious ceremonies: Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services are restricted to 30 per cent capacity indoors or 100 people outdoors
Restaurants: Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments can operate with 10 patrons seated indoors, where physical distancing can be maintained, and a maximum of four patrons per table, buffet style service is prohibited, establishments must be closed from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., liquor sales are restricted between 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and night clubs can only operate as restaurant or bar
Sports and recreational facilities: Capacity limits at sports and recreational fitness facilities, where a three-metre distance can be maintained between patrons, is capped at 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, patrons may only be in the facility for 90 minutes (except if engaging in a sport) and no spectators are permitted at sporting events
Supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores: Stores that primarily sell groceries, convenience stores, pharmacies can operate at 75 per cent capacity
Retail and other services: Other retail, including discount and big box retailers, liquor stores, hardware stores and garden centres, can operate at 50 per cent capacity and malls are restricted to 10 people seated at a food court, cinemas are closed (except for drive-ins), performing arts facilities cannot have any spectators, casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments, personal services can operate but services requiring the removal of face coverings are prohibited, in addition to the closure of oxygen bars, steam rooms, saunas, bath houses and sensory deprivation pods
Orange-Restrict
Social gatherings: Events and social gatherings, including parties, dinners, gatherings, barbeques and wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, or parks, where physical distancing can be maintained, are limited to 10 people indoor or 25 people outdoors
Organized events: Organized public events and gatherings in staffed businesses and facilities, where physical distancing can be maintained, are limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
Religious ceremonies: Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, if held in meeting and event spaces, are restricted to 30 per cent capacity indoor or 100 people outdoors
Restaurants: Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments can operate with 50 patrons seated indoors, where physical distancing can be maintained, and a maximum of four patrons per table, buffet style service is prohibited, establishments must be closed from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., liquor sales are restricted between 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and night clubs can only operate as restaurant or bar
Sports and recreational facilities: Capacity limits at sports and recreational fitness facilities, where a three-metre distance can be maintained between patrons, is capped at 50 people indoors, but each indoor fitness class can only have a maximum of 10 people and must take place in a separate room, and 100 people outdoors, but each outdoor fitness class can only have a maximum of 25 people, patrons may only be in the facility for 90 minutes (except if engaging in a sport) and no spectators are permitted at sporting events
Retail and other services: Retail, personal care services, casinos, bingo halls, gaming establishments, cinemas can operate under the capacity limits, but services requiring the removal of face coverings are prohibited, in addition to the closure of oxygen bars, steam rooms, saunas, bath houses and sensory deprivation pods
Yellow-Protect
Private gatherings: Events and social gatherings, including parties, dinners, gatherings, barbeques and wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, or parks, where physical distancing can be maintained, are limited to 10 people indoor or 25 people outdoors
Organized events: Organized public events and gatherings in staffed businesses and facilities, where physical distancing can be maintained, are limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
Religious ceremonies: Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, if held in meeting and event spaces, are restricted to 30 per cent capacity indoor or 100 people outdoors
Restaurants: Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments can operate with a two-metre distance between tables and a maximum of six patrons per table, buffet style service is prohibited, establishments must be closed from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., liquor sales are restricted between 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and night clubs can only operate as restaurant or bar
Sports and recreational facilities: Capacity limits at sports and recreational fitness facilities, where physical distancing can be maintained, is capped at 50 people indoors, but each indoor fitness class can only have a maximum of 10 people and must take place in a separate room, and 100 people outdoors, but each outdoor fitness class can only have a maximum of 25 people
Retail and other services: Retail, personal care services, casinos, bingo halls, gaming establishments, cinemas can operate under the capacity limits, with the exception of oxygen bars, steam rooms and saunas that will remain closed
Green-Prevent
Private gatherings: Events and social gatherings, including parties, dinners, gatherings, barbeques and wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, or parks, where physical distancing can be maintained, are limited to 10 people indoor or 25 people outdoors
Organized events: Organized public events and gatherings in staffed businesses and facilities, where physical distancing can be maintained, are limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
Sports and recreational facilities: Capacity limits at sports and recreational fitness facilities, where physical distancing can be maintained, is capped at 50 people indoors or 100 people outdoors
Religious ceremonies: Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, if held in meeting and event spaces, are restricted to 30 per cent capacity indoor or 100 people outdoors
Restaurants: Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments can operate with a two-metre distance between tables, but buffet style service is prohibited, and night clubs can only operate as restaurant or bar
Retail and other services: Retail, personal care services, casinos, bingo halls, gaming establishments, cinemas can operate under the capacity limits, with the exception of oxygen bars, steam rooms and saunas that will remain closed
