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WATCH: Peel, Toronto going back into lockdown

Other regions are being moved into stricter levels

Update:

Premier Doug Ford announced today that Toronto and Peel are moving into the grey (lockdown) level of the province's reopening framework.

Based on the latest data, the government intends to move Peel Public Health and Toronto Public Health into Lockdown effective Monday at 12:01 a.m.

Additionally, the following public health unit regions will move from their current level in the framework to the following levels on Monday as well:

Red-Control

  • Durham Region Health Department; and
  • Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services.

Orange-Restrict

  • Huron Perth Public Health;
  • Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit;
  • Southwestern Public Health; and
  • Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

Yellow-Protect

  • Chatham-Kent Public Health;
  • Eastern Ontario Health Unit;
  • Grey Bruce Health Unit;
  • Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health;
  • Peterborough Public Health; and
  • Thunder Bay District Health Unit.

Ford says "these measures are being taken to limit community transmission of COVID-19 in order to keep schools open, safeguard health system capacity, and protect the province's most vulnerable populations."

Measures under lockdown include, but are not limited to:

  • Schools, before and after school programs, and child care will remain open;
  • Post-secondary schools open for virtual learning with some limited exceptions for training that can only be provided in-person, such as clinical training or training related to a trade;
  • No indoor organized public events or social gatherings except with members of the same household. Individuals who live alone, including seniors, may consider having exclusive, close contact with one other person;
  • Outdoor organized public events or social gatherings limited to a maximum of 10 people;
  • Wedding services, funeral services and religious services, rites or ceremonies where physical distancing can be maintained can have up to 10 people indoors or 10 people outdoors;
  • Retail permitted to be open for curbside pick-up or delivery only, with certain exceptions such as for supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, discount and big box retailers selling groceri es, beer, wine and liquor stores, safety supply stores, and convenience stores, which will be allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity;
  • Restaurants, bars, and food and drink establishments will only be able to provide takeout, drive-through and delivery. Indoor and outdoor dining services are prohibited;
  • Personal care services closed;
  • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments closed; and
  • Indoor sports and recreational facilities, including pools, closed with limited exceptions.

In response, the government has announced it will spend $600 million in relief to support eligible businesses required to close or significantly restrict services due to enhanced public health measures, doubling its initial commitment of $300 million made in the 2020 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protect, Support Recover.

Original story:

Today's announcement comes after the provincial government extended public health orders for another month. Premier Doug Ford is slated to make a COVID-19 announcement at 3:30 p.m.

It is expected that the premier will tighten restrictions in COVID-19 hot spot regions, including Toronto, Peel and York regions.

Ford will be joined by Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, and Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Office of Health, to make the announcement.

Village Media will carry the livestream, so stay tuned.



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