Effective Friday, June 12, the province will increase the limit on social gatherings from five to 10 people across the province, regardless of whether a region has moved to Stage 2. Additionally, all places of worship in Ontario will also be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and attendance limited to no more than 30 per cent of the building capacity to ensure the safety of worshippers.
Sample Reopening Plan for Places of Worship
Information for Faith and Religious Organizations
The Grey Bruce Health Unit region is one of 24 regions in the province allowed to move into Stage 2 on Friday, June 12. Businesses and services permitted to reopen with proper health and safety measures in place in regions entering Stage 2 include:
Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act - Stage 2
- Outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other establishments, including patios, curbside, parking lots and adjacent properties;
- Select personal and personal care services with the proper health and safety measures in place, including tattoo parlours, barber shops, hair salons and beauty salons - Guidance for Personal Service Settings during COVID-19;
- Shopping malls under existing restrictions, including food services reopening for take-out and outdoor dining only;
- Tour and guide services, such as bike and walking, bus and boat tours, as well as tasting and tours for wineries, breweries and distilleries;
- Water recreational facilities such as outdoor splash pads and wading pools, and all swimming pools;
- Beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks;
- Camping at private campgrounds;
- Outdoor-only recreational facilities and training for outdoor team sports, with limits to enable physical distancing;
- Drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural appreciation, such as art installations;
- Film and television production activities, with limits to enable physical distancing; and
- Weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people.
On June 5th, restrictions on short term rentals will be lifted. Short term rentals include lodges, cabins, cottages, homes, condominiums and B&Bs will be allowed to resume operations in Ontario. While the provision of short-term rental accommodation may resume, access to pools, fitness centres, meeting rooms and other recreational facilities that may be part of the operations of these businesses is prohibited. Restaurants and/or dining facilities will be subject to the same requirements as hotels and motels and will not be permitted to be open. The advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Health continues to apply. Individuals should maintain physical distancing with members outside of their immediate household.
On June 2, the Province of Ontario, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is extending the provincial Declaration of Emergency to June 30. The decision supports the government's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and protect the health and safety of Ontarians as the province reopens in a measured and responsible way.
On May 14th, the Ontario government announced the retailers, seasonal businesses and health and community service providers who will be permitted to open or expand their services on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., provided that the general trend on health indicators continues to improve as part of the first stage of the government's reopening framework. The government also announced additional seasonal services and activities will be permitted to open as early as Saturday May 16, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., in time for the Victoria Day long weekend, as key public health indicators continue to show progress.
As soon as 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2020:
- Golf courses will be able to open, with clubhouses open only for washrooms and restaurants open only for take-out.
- Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches may open for recreational use.
- Private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract.
- Businesses that board animals, such as stables, may allow boarders to visit, care for or ride their animal.
As soon as Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. the following businesses and services may open:
- Retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate street-front entrances with measures in place that can enable physical distancing, such as limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time and booking appointments beforehand or on the spot.
- Seasonal businesses and recreational activities for individual or single competitors, including training and sport competitions conducted by a recognized national or provincial sport organization. This includes indoor and outdoor non-team sport competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators, such as tennis, track and field and horse racing.
- Animal services, specifically pet care services, such as grooming and training, and regular veterinary appointments.
- Indoor and outdoor household services that can follow public health guidelines, such as housekeepers, cooks, cleaning and maintenance.
- Lifting essential workplace limits on construction.
For more information, visit the News Release: Ontario Announces Additional Workplaces that can Reopen. Additional Seasonal, retail and household businesses must follow public health guidelines.
On May 9th, the Ontario government announced the opening of provincial parks and conservation reserves for limited day-use access. The first areas will open on Monday May 11, 2020, with the remaining areas opening on Friday May 15, 2020. At this time, recreational activities will be limited to walking, hiking, biking and birdwatching. For more, visit the news release from the Ontario Government: Ontario Opening Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves
On May 6th, Ontario announced further easing of restrictions for retail stores and essential construction. The Ontario government is allowing more retail stores to reopen as long as they follow strict health and safety guidelines. The details are as follows:
May 8 at 12:01 a.m. garden centres and nurseries will be able to open for in-store payment and purchases
May 9 at 12:01 a.m. hardware stores and safety supply stores will be able to open for in-store payment and purchases
May 11 at 12.01 a.m. retail stores with a street entrance can provide curbside pick-up and delivery
The government is also allowing below-grade multi-unit residential construction projects to resume work.
For more, visit the news release from the Ontario Government: Ontario Further Eases Restrictions on Retail Stores and Essential Construction During COVID-19.
As of Monday May 4th, the Province has indicated the following list of businesses can operate and open under strict guidelines:
- Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
- Lawn care and landscaping;
- Additional essential construction projects that include:
- shipping and logistics;
- broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
- any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
- municipal projects;
- colleges and universities;
- child care centres;
- schools; and
- site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
- Automatic and self-serve car washes;
- Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
- Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
- Marinas may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock in the marina until public access is allowed.