That long awaited haircut is possible this Friday as Newmarket and York Region restaurants, bars, beauty salons, malls and many other businesses today got the blessing of Ontario’s chief medical officer of health and the province’s command table to move into stage 2 of reopening the economy.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford today announced that York Region, along with Durham, Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, and more, have successfully flattened the curve of COVID-19 and can reopen safely and under certain public health conditions.
“Our team crunched numbers over the weekend, reviewed the data, and on their advice, I’m excited to announce that as of this Friday (June 19) the following regions can enter stage 2,” Ford said.
Three of Ontario’s public health regions remain in stage 1 this week due to their coronavirus infection rates, including Toronto, Peel, and Windsor-Essex.
“We can’t let our guard down, please be patient,” Ford said in addressing the regions that remain in stage 1 of Ontario’s three-stage COVID-19 recovery plan. “But good news is the public health trends across the province are going in the right direction. We’re making steady progress, and if we keep working together, I’m hopeful that all communities in Ontario will be able to enter stage 2 very soon.”
At a regional council meeting last Thursday, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor encouraged residents to continue to follow public health guidelines, saying, "We need to become actually more vigilant as things open up, not less vigilant".
"People think opening means loosening or relaxing, it actually means the opposite," Taylor said.
In stage 2, some restrictions are lifted with emphasis remaining on public health advice, workplace health and safety guidance, and personal and collective responsibilities, according to the Ontario government.
More businesses and services will be permitted to open, as well as community, recreational and outdoor spaces. The people and employers of the province must continue to act and work in the ways required to help stop the spread of COVID-19. As part of Ontario’s responsible approach, protections for vulnerable people must remain a top priority throughout the next stages of reopening.
Places that can reopen in stage 2 in Newmarket, and York Region's nine municipalities include:
Outdoor recreational facilities
Outdoor recreational team sports
Weddings, funerals and similar gatherings
Attractions & heritage institutions
More to come on this developing story.
