Province Announces Windsor Essex Will Move To Lockdown On Monday

Friday December 11th, 2020, 1:13pm

Hello time traveller!!
This article is 1232 days old.
The information listed below is likely outdated and has been preserved for archival purposes.

The province of Ontario announced Friday that Windsor Essex will be moving to Grey, or “Lockdown” status under the province’s COVID-19 response framework.

The changes will come into effect on Monday, December 14th at 12:01am.

“Moving a region into Grey-Lockdown is not an easy decision, but it is one we needed to make in order to help stop the spread of the virus and safeguard the key services we rely on,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, in a news release. “As we enter the holiday season and as the province prepares to receive its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines, it remains crucial for all Ontarians to continue adhering to public health advice and workplace safety measures to reduce the spread of the virus and keep each other safe.”

The province says public health units will stay in their level for a minimum of 28 days, or two COVID-19 incubation periods. After that time, the government says they will assess the impact of public health measures to determine if a public health unit can be moved to a less restrictive level.

Effective Dec 14 at 12:01 a.m., @TheWECHU is moving to Grey–Lockdown.
Limit all trips outside your home for essential reasons only, like buying groceries or medical appointments.
Learn more about the restrictions being implemented at: https://t.co/QlSWofoKMq pic.twitter.com/yjwfTrMXzu
— Ontario Ministry of Health (@ONThealth) December 11, 2020

“Over the last week, public health indicators in the York and Windsor regions have continued to trend in the wrong direction and it is evident additional measures are needed to help limit the spread of the virus,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “By making this difficult but necessary decision we can help to ensure that hospitals in these regions can work to provide patients with the care they need when they need it, including the performing of scheduled surgeries and other important procedures.”

Grey ‘Lockdown’ status means the following, according to the province:

Changes from Red – Control to Grey – Lockdown are marked in grey.

Organized public events, social gatherings and wedding, funeral and religious services, rites and ceremonies

No indoor organized public events and social gatherings, except with members of the same household
- Individuals who live alone, including seniors, may consider having exclusive, close contact with another household to help reduce the negative impacts of social isolation
Limit for outdoor organized public events and social gatherings, physical distancing can be maintained:
- 10 people outdoors
Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, where physical distancing can be maintained (applies in any venue other than a private dwelling):
- 10 people indoors
- 10 people outdoors
Virtual and drive-in events and religious services, rites or ceremonies permitted

Restaurants, bars and food or drink establishments

Indoor and outdoor service prohibited
Take out, drive through and delivery permitted, including alcohol

Sports and recreational fitness facilities

Facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness activities are closed except for:
- The sole use of high performance athletes including parasport athletes, and specified professional leagues (for example, NHL, CFL, MLS, NBA)
- Specified purposes (for example, day camps, child care)
Outdoor recreational amenities (for example, ice rinks, ski hills, snow trails) open with restrictions (for example, no team sports)
Community centres and multi-purpose facilities (for example, YMCA) allowed to be open for permitted activities (for example, child care services, day camps, social services)

Meeting and event spaces

Closed with limited exceptions for:
- child care and day camps for children
- court services
- government services
- mental health and addiction support services (for example, Alcoholics Anonymous) permitted to a maximum of 10 people
- provision of social services

Retail

Retail generally permitted to be open for curbside pick-up or delivery only (in-person retail shopping not permitted) with some exceptions:
- Supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, hardware stores, other retailers selling groceries, beer and wine and liquor stores, pharmacies, safety supply stores and pet supply stores permitted to be open for in-person shopping
- 50% capacity limits where in-person shopping is permitted
- Motor/recreational vehicle sales permitted to be open for in-person shopping by appointment only and other restrictions
- Garden centres, plant nurseries: indoor by appointment. Permitted if public remains outdoors or by curbside pick-up or delivery
- Outdoor markets, including farmer’s markets and holiday markets, permitted with restrictions
Retail outlets in malls permitted to be open for pick-up or delivery (in-person retail shopping not permitted)
- Access to shopping malls for limited purposes, including access to businesses and organizations permitted to be open (for example, pharmacy, dentist); food court open for take-away; malls may also establish designated pick-up points inside or adjacent to the mall
- Subject to general rule for businesses that are open must maintain 2 metres distance while standing in line inside and outside

Personal care services

Closed

Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments

Closed

Cinemas

Closed, except for:
- drive-in cinemas
- rehearsal or performing a recorded or broadcasted event, with restrictions, which include:
  - Performers and employees must maintain 2 metres physical distance except for purposes of the performance
  - Singers and players of brass or wind instruments must be separated from any other performers by plexiglass or other impermeable barrier
A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

Performing arts facilities

Closed to spectators
Rehearsal or performing a recorded or broadcasted event permitted, with restrictions, which include:
- Performers and employees must maintain 2 metres physical distance except for purposes of the performance
- Singers and players of brass or wind instruments must be separated from any other performers by plexiglass or other impermeable barrier
Drive-in performances permitted
A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

Amusement parks, water parks

Closed

Bathhouses and sex clubs

Closed

Boarding kennels and stables

Permitted to open for animal’s owner, or their representative, to visit the animal, assist in the care or feeding of the animal or, as applicable, ride the animal

Campgrounds

Available for trailers and recreational vehicles that are used by individuals who are in need of housing, or are permitted to be there by the terms of a full season contract
Only campsites with electricity, water service and facilities for sewage disposal may be provided for use
All recreational facilities in the campground and all other shared facilities in the campground, other than washrooms and showers, must be closed
Short-term campground rentals that were reserved on or before November 22, 2020 are permitted; no new reservations after November 22, 2020 permitted, except for individuals who are in need of housing

Cannabis

Permitted by curb-side pick-up and delivery

Driving instruction

In-person driving instruction not permitted
Virtual permitted

Household services

Domestic and cleaning and maintenance services permitted, including:
- housekeepers, cooks, maids and butlers
- personal affairs management
- nanny services and babysitters
- other domestic personnel
- house cleaning
Outdoor cleaning and maintenance services permitte, including:
- indoor or outdoor painting
- pool cleaning
- general repairs

Horse racing

Training only, no races
No spectators

Hotels, motels

Permitted to operate except for any pools, fitness centres, meeting rooms and other recreational facilities that may be part of the operations of these businesses

Libraries

Open for curbside, delivery and pick-up
Patrons permitted to enter libraries for contactless drop-off and pick-up, and to access computers, photocopiers, or similar services
May open for permitted services (for example, day camp, child care services, mental health and addiction support services to a limit of 10 persons [AA meetings], provision of social services)
No classes

Marinas, boating clubs, golf courses and driving ranges

Marinas and boating clubs permitted
Clubhouses, restaurants, pools, meeting rooms, fitness centres or other recreational facilities on the premises closed to the public, with limited exceptions
Golf courses and driving ranges:
- Outdoors permitted
- Indoors closed
Indoor shooting ranges closed

Media industries

Sound recording, production, publishing and distribution businesses
Film and television production, including all supporting activities such as hair, makeup and wardrobe, are permitted to open if they meet the following conditions:
- No studio audiences may be permitted to be on the film or television set
- The set must be configured and operated in such a way as to enable persons on the set to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from other persons, except where necessary for the filming of the film or television production
- Persons who provide hair or makeup services must wear appropriate personal protective equipment
- Singers and players of brass or wind instruments must be separated from any other performers by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier
Film and television post-production, visual effects and animation studios are permitted
Book and periodical production, publishing and distribution businesses are permitted
Interactive digital media businesses, including computer system software or application developers and publishers, and video game developers and publishers are permitted

Motorsports

Closed

Museums and other cultural amenities (for example, art galleries, science centres)

Closed (indoors) to members of the public
Drive-in or drive through only

Nightclubs

Only permitted to open if they operate as a restaurant, bar, or other food and drink establishment (take-out, drive-through and delivery service only)

Personal services

In-person personal services not permitted, including:
- personal shoppers
- party and wedding planners
- personal organizer services
- personal physical fitness or sports trainers
- house sitters

Photography studios and services

Commercial and industrial photography permitted
Retail photo studios closed

Real estate agencies (including pre-sale construction)

Permitted to operate; property showings by appointment only

Short-term rentals

Existing reservations as of November 22, 2020 honoured regardless of when the rental occurs
No new reservations after November 22, 2020 permitted, except for individuals who are in need of housing
This does not apply to hotels, motels, lodges, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences

Strip clubs

Only permitted to open if they operate as a restaurant, bar, or other food and drink establishment (take-out and delivery service only)

Tour and guide services

Closed

Animal services

Services that are permitted include:
- Veterinary services and other businesses that provide for the health and welfare of animals, including farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters and research facilities
- Businesses that provide services for the training and provision of service animals
- Businesses that provide pet services, including pet grooming services, pet sitting services, pet walking services and pet training services