Windsor Essex Remaining In Red – Control Zone For Another Week

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Windsor and Essex County will be remaining in Red – Control under the province’s COVID-19 framework for at least another week.

The province announced changes to a number of regions, just after 2:00pm, Friday afternoon. They say decisions were made in consultation with the local medical officers of health and are “based on the trends in public health indicators and local context and conditions.”

“Over the last week, we have continued to see some concerning trends in key health indicators in regions across the province,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, in a news release. “As we cautiously make targeted adjustments to public health measures to support the wellbeing of individuals and small business owners, it is critical that everyone remains vigilant and continues to strictly follow all public health measures and advice to keep each other safe.”

The following regions are heading to these levels on Monday, March 29nd, 2021 at 12:01am:

Grey-Lockdown

• City of Hamilton Public Health Services

Red-Control

• Eastern Ontario Health Unit

The province says all other regions, including Windsor-Essex, will remain at their current levels.

Changes To Rules In Lockdown Regions

The province also announced changes to “support businesses and promote fitness during the pandemic” in areas under Grey – Lockdown.

They say the changes will allow “the safe resumption of select activities where the risk of COVID-19 transmission can be minimized.”

The changes for lockdown regions include:

• Effective Monday, March 29th, 2021 at 12:01am, permitting outdoor fitness classes, outdoor training for team and individual sports and outdoor personal training, subject to public health and workplace safety measures, including, but not limited to: a maximum of 10 patrons, every person maintaining a physical distance of at least three metres from another person, requiring a reservation and active patron screening.
• Effective Monday, March 29th, 2021 at 12:01am, permitting marinas and boating clubs to operate clubhouses or any restaurant, bar and other food or drink establishment for outdoor dining, subject to public health and workplace safety measures.
• Effective Monday, April 12th, 2021 at 12:01am, personal care service settings including but not limited to barber shops, hair and nail salons, and body art establishments, will be permitted to operate at 25 per cent capacity or five patrons (whichever is less) subject to physical distancing, including by appointment only, and other public health and workplace safety measures.

Changes To Outdoor Religious Ceremonies, Weddings, Funerals In All Regions

The province also announced changes to weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies held in regions in all levels of the framework.

They say effective Monday, March 29th, 2021 at 12:01am, capacity limits for outdoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies, will be adjusted to allow for the number of individuals that can maintain two metres of physical distance.

The current limit for these types of events is 100 people outdoors.

The province says this change does not apply to social gatherings associated with these services, such as receptions.

Changes To Provincial “Emergency Brake”

The province also announced that the current “emergency brake” measures that allow Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams to move a region into Grey-Lockdown will be changing.

The province says the “emergency brake” will now allow the Chief Medical Officer of Health to immediately re-implement the previously lifted province-wide shutdown measures if a public health region experiences a rapid acceleration in COVID-19 transmission or if its health system is at risk of becoming overwhelmed. The previously lifted shutdown measures included a requirement to stay at home.

“Adjusting the emergency brake to allow for the recommendation to immediately implement shutdown measures in regions experiencing a rapid increase in transmission is important given the changes to the public health measures in the Grey-Lockdown level and will provide an extra layer of protection as we continue to fight this virus,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, in a release. “While adjustments are being made to the emergency brake and certain public health measures, the latest data continues to show some worrying trends throughout the province, and variants of concern remain a significant threat to public health. That is why it is important that people remain cautious and vigilant in order to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 and protect themselves and their communities.”