York Region will move into the red zone of the provincial government's COVID-19 framework as of Monday, Nov. 16.
Premier Doug Ford announced today that in response to rising rates of COVID-19 across the province, thresholds for each level in the COVID-19 framework are being lowered.
Anyone in a red control region should only leave their home for essential purposes.
The restrictions come into effect as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16. Under the red control zone, broader-scale restrictions across multiple sectors must take place to control submission (i.e. modified stage 2 measures). This is the most severe zone before a widespread business or organizational closure.
For long-term care homes, visitor restrictions will apply to public health regions within the orange restrict and red control levels in the framework. This will go into effect on Monday as well.
Assignments to the current levels would last for a minimum of 28 days or two-incubation periods, at which time the status of these public health unit regions will be reassessed on a weekly basis. However, movement to a more restrictive zone will be considered sooner if there are rapidly worsening trends.
General Safety Measures
York Region is currently in the RED/CONTROL zone and the following public health safety measures are applicable to gatherings, workplaces requirements and face coverings:
- Physical distancing to be maintained for all events and gatherings with individuals outside of one’s household
- Workplaces are required to screen
- Face coverings are required in all public spaces (with limited exemptions) including indoor workplaces
- Worker protections, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks and eye protection, are required where patrons without face coverings are within 2 metres of workers (indoors and in the absence of a Plexiglas or some other impermeable barrier)
- Advice to restrict non-essential travel from areas of high transmission to areas of low transmission
- Development and implementation of a communication/public education plan highlighting risk
Gathering Limits
- Gathering limit for all organized public events and social gatherings:
- 10 people indoors
- 25 people outdoors
- Gathering limit for religious service, rite or ceremony, including wedding ceremonies and funeral services, if the gathering is held in a building or structure other than a private dwelling:
- 30 per cent capacity indoors with physical distancing in place
- 100 people outdoors
- An indoor event or gathering cannot be combined with an outdoor event or gathering so as to increase the limit of people attending
