New restrictions in Ontario today to help slow the spread of COVID-19

Ontario is putting new restrictions in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The restrictions will remain in place until the 27th of January, but could be pushed back even further depending on case counts and hospitalizations in the province at the time.

According to the province’s website the new restrictions include:

Social gatherings are permitted under the following conditions:

indoor gatherings limited to five people or fewer
outdoor gatherings limited to 10 people or fewer

Organized public events are permitted under the following conditions:

indoor events limited to five people or fewer
outdoor events have no limits on number of attendees, but face coverings and/or masks must be worn when distancing (two metres or more) cannot be maintained

Weddings, funerals, religious services, rites and ceremonies are permitted under the following conditions:

indoor services are limited to 50 per cent the capacity of the room
outdoor services are limited to the number of people who can maintain two metres distance
drive-in (motor vehicle) services permitted
social gatherings associated with these services must adhere to the social gathering limits

Retirement homes

Retirement homes are exempt from organized public event and social gathering restrictions if the home is in compliance with the policies or guidance, if any, issued by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority.

Restrictions for businesses

Work from home

Businesses and organizations must make sure that all work is conducted remotely, unless the nature of the work requires workers to be on-site at the workplace.

Retail

All retail must operate under the following conditions:

50 per cent capacity
music played is not above a decibel level where normal conversation is possible
active screening at photography studios and services
safety measures for vehicle test drives sales, such as a maximum of 10 minutes for a test drive, a maximum of two people in a vehicle, including one sales representative, windows must be rolled down, active screening, masking, etc.
safety measures for shopping malls, including capacity limits, no loitering, distancing in line ups, food courts closed and active screening.

Camps

Day and overnight camps are closed.

Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments, including those with dance floors (such as nightclubs) and strip clubs must operate under the following conditions:

indoor service closed
take out, drive through and delivery allowed
outdoor areas open with restrictions including, but not limited to:
- no more than 10 people per table
- patrons must remain seated
- no dancing or singing
- active screening
- limited hours for the sale, service and consumption of liquor

Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres and convention centres must operate under the following conditions:

indoor areas closed with exceptions, such as child care, court and government services, social services, health services, collective bargaining and mental health/addiction services up to 10 people, in-person exams for limited fields/occupations up to 50 people
outdoor areas open with restrictions including, but not limited to:
- no more than 10 people per table
- patrons must remain seated
- no dancing or singing
- active screening
- limited hours for the sale, service and consumption of liquor

Indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including gyms, sporting events and personal training must operate under the following conditions:

indoor closed with limited exceptions and conditions (such as athletes training for Olympics and Paralympics, select professional and elite amateur sport leagues who will operate via an approved framework from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and persons with disabilities for physical therapy)
outdoor open with spectators limited to 50 per cent capacity and other restrictions
proof of vaccination required for facilities with a usual capacity of 20,000 or more people

Recreational amenities must operate under the following conditions:

indoor recreational amenities closed
outdoor recreational amenities open

Concert venues, theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries, zoos, science centres , landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks, waterparks, tour and guide services including boat tours, fairs, rural exhibitions and festivals must operate under the following conditions:

outdoor open with restrictions (such as masking on rides)
spectators at seated events at 50 per cent capacity
outdoor tours and boat tours at 50 per cent capacity
drive-in and drive through events permitted with restrictions, such as distancing between cars, only permitted to leave a vehicle in limited circumstances, etc.
indoor areas of concert venues, theatres and cinemas closed except for rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted performance, artistic event or performance, with restrictions

Commercial film and television production

studio audiences not permitted
- Restrictions, including performers must be distanced unless necessary

Casinos and racing venues

Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments will be closed.

Horse and car racing tracks and similar venues must operate under the following conditions:

indoor areas closed
outdoor areas open with restrictions, including mandatory reservations, spectators limited to 50 per cent of usual seating capacity and others
proof of vaccination required for facilities with a usual capacity of 20,000 or more people.

Personal care services

Saunas, steam rooms and oxygen bars will be closed.

Personal care services such as barbers, hair salons, tattoo parlours must operate under the following conditions:

50 per cent capacity
no services where face coverings need to be removed
by appointment only
active screening
music played is not above a decibel level where normal conversation is possible

Short-term accommodation

Hotels, motels and similar establishments must operate under the following conditions:

open except for any area required to be closed, such as indoor gyms, pools, steam rooms/saunas
restaurants within the hotel or motel may offer takeout or delivery only

Short-term rentals must operate under the following conditions:

only open to those in need of housing (does not apply to hotels, motels, lodges, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences.)
ice fishing huts permitted with restrictions

Other service providers

Liquor sales and service are permitted under the following conditions:

sale of alcohol must end at 10 p.m. and no consumption of alcohol on-premise in businesses or settings after 11 p.m., with the exception of delivery and takeout services, grocery and convenience stores and other liquor retail stores

Real estate agencies must operate under the following conditions:

property viewings by appointment only
no open houses

Businesses that provide in-person teaching or instruction (such as cooking classes, music classes) must operate under the following conditions:

indoor areas closed, except for organizations that provide health and safety training (with conditions)
outdoor areas open with restrictions in place, such as physical distancing

Driving instruction must be conducted under the following conditions:

limited to in-person instruction for drivers of commercial motor vehicles only.

Libraries and community centres must operate under the following conditions:

open with 50 per cent capacity, with limited exceptions, such as child care, social services

Bathhouses and sex clubs will be closed.

If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.