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Here is the full list of Ontario’s modified Stage 2 restrictions

Effective at 12:01 am on October 10, Ontario will implement modified Stage 2 pandemic restrictions in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel in an attempt counteract surging COVID-19 cases.

“All trends are going in the wrong direction,” Premier Doug Ford said during a Queen’s Park press briefing on Friday. “If left unchecked, we risk worst-case scenarios first seen in Italy and New York City.”

Public health officials say hospitalizations are rising, new cases are rising in older age groups, the number of contacts a positive case comes in contact with is up to 100 and some jurisdictions are seeing positivity rates as high as 10 per cent with testing rates at an all-time high.

The new restrictions include closing indoor dining, gyms, cinemas and performance arts venues. The province is now advising people in Toronto, Peel and Ottawa to leave their homes only for essential reasons.

Ford called the restrictions a “partial walk-back” to Stage 2 of the province’s phased reopening plan.

Below is a complete list of the modified Stage 2 measures, which will be in effect for 28 days.

New gathering limits

  • Reducing limits for all social gatherings and organized public events to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained. The two limits may not be combined for an indoor-outdoor event

What’s closing

  • Prohibiting indoor food and drink service in restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, including nightclubs and food court areas in malls;
  • Closing of:
    • Indoor gyms and fitness centres (i.e., exercise classes and weight and exercise rooms);
    • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments;
    • Indoor cinemas;
    • Performing arts centres and venues;
    • Spectator areas in racing venues;
    • Interactive exhibits or exhibits with a high risk of personal contact in museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, etc.

Personal care services

  • Prohibiting personal care services where face coverings must be removed for the service (e.g. makeup application, beard trimming);

Capacity reductions

  • Reducing the capacity limits for:
    • Tour and guide services to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors
    • Real estate open houses to 10 people indoors, where physical distancing can be maintained.
    • In-person teaching and instruction (e.g. cooking class) to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, with exemptions for schools, child care centres, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, private career colleges, the Ontario Police College, etc.
    • Meeting and event spaces to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
    • Limiting team sports to training sessions (no games or scrimmages).

What will stay open

Schools, child care centres and places of worship will remain open and must continue to follow the public health measures in place. Before-school and after-school programs will also be exempt from these new restrictions.

Retailers will also remain open. Restaurants will remain open for outdoor dining and takeout, as will outdoor gyms and fitness centres.

Weddings

Given the extraordinary costs associated with these functions, wedding receptions scheduled for this weekend may proceed under existing public health rules.

Effective Tuesday, October 13 at 12:01 am, updated public health measures will apply to wedding receptions, including new gathering limits of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors at event spaces.

Outside Toronto, Ottawa and Peel

In addition to the measures being implemented in Ottawa, Peel and Toronto, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams is also urging all Ontarians to:

  • Limit trips outside of home, except for essential purposes only such as work where it is not possible to work from home; school; grocery shopping; medical appointments; and outdoor healthy physical activity. In addition, travel to other regions in the province, especially from higher transmission to lower transmission areas, should only be for essential purposes;
  • Practise physical distancing of at least two metres with those outside your household;
  • Wear a face covering when physical distancing is a challenge or where it is mandatory to do so; and
  • Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly; and follow gathering limits and rules.

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