Province Announces Windsor Essex Is Moving To Red ‘Control’ Status

Friday November 27th, 2020, 1:16pm

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Ontario Ministry of Health graphic

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

The changes will come into effect on Monday, November 30th 12:01am.

“The health and safety of all Ontarians is and will always be our top priority, that’s why we are following the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts and making this adjustment today,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Over the last week we have seen a shift in the trends of key public health indicators in regions across the province, and by moving [regions to new levels] in the framework, we can ensure that the necessary targeted measures are in place to stop the spread of the virus and allow us to keep our schools and businesses open.”

Effective Nov 30 at 12:01 a.m., @TheWECHU is moving to Red–Control under the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework.
Learn about the #PublicHealth measures you need to follow at: https://t.co/QlSWofoKMq pic.twitter.com/Ig67vxpfyo
— Ontario Ministry of Health (@ONThealth) November 27, 2020

Windsor-Essex joins four other regions moving to different levels under the framework. Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is moving to Orange-Restrict, and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Lambton Public Health, and Northwestern Health Unit are moving to Yellow-Protect.

The Red status is one status away from the province’s Lockdown status.

Red ‘Control’ status means the following, according to the province:

Changes from Orange – Restrict to Red – Control are marked in red.

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

Limits for all organized public events and social gatherings:
- 5 people indoors
- 25 people outdoors
Limits for religious services rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services (apply regardless of the venue where held):
- 30% capacity of the room indoors
- 100 people outdoors

Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments

Maximum number of patrons permitted to be seated indoors is 10
Outdoor dining, take out, drive through, and delivery permitted, including alcohol
Require patrons to be seated; 2 metre minimum or impermeable barrier required between tables
Limit of 4 people may be seated together
Dancing, singing and the live performance of music is prohibited
Require contact information for all seated patrons
No buffet style service
Line-ups and patrons congregating outside venues managed by venue; 2 metres distance and face covering required
Face coverings required except when eating or drinking only
Personal protective equipment, including eye protection required when is a worker must come within 2 metres of another person who is not wearing a face covering
Establishments must be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
No consumption of liquor permitted between 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible
Screening of patrons is required, in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
Night clubs and strip clubs only permitted to operate as restaurant or bar
A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

Sports and recreational fitness facilities

Gyms and fitness studios permitted to be open with maximum of:
- 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors in classes; and
- 10 people indoors in areas with weights or exercise equipment
No spectators permitted (exemption for parent and guardian supervision of children)
Increase spacing between patrons to 3 metres for areas of a sport or recreational facility where there are weights or exercise equipment and in exercise and fitness classes
Team sports must not be practiced or played except for training (no games or scrimmage)
Activities that are likely to result in individuals coming within 2 metres of each other are not permitted; no contact permitted for team or individual sports, with an exemption for high performance, including parasport, athletes.
Patrons may only be in the facility for 90 minutes except if engaging in a sport
Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible; measures to prevent shouting by both instructors and members of the public
Face coverings required except when exercising
Require contact information for all members of the public that enter the facility
Require reservation for entry; one reservation for teams
Screening of patrons is required, in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

Meeting and event spaces

Maximum of 10 people per facility indoors or 25 outdoors
Booking multiple rooms for the same event not permitted
Establishments must be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
No consumption of liquor permitted between 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Require contact information for all seated patrons
Limit of 4 people may be seated together
Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible
Screening of patrons is required, in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

Retail

Fitting rooms must be limited to non-adjacent stalls
Line-ups and patrons congregating outside venues managed by venue; 2 metre distance required inside and outside; face covering also required while in line
Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible
Screening of patrons is required, in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
For malls:
- Maximum number of patrons permitted to be seated indoors in mall food court is 10
- A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

Personal care services

Oxygen bars, steam rooms, saunas, bath houses and other adult venues, closed
Sensory deprivation pods closed (some exceptions)
Services requiring removal of face coverings prohibited
Require contact information from all patrons
Screening of patrons is required, in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments

Maximum of 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors
Table games are prohibited
Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
No consumption of liquor permitted between 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Require contact information from all patrons
Screening of patrons is required, in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

Cinemas

Closed, except for:
- drive-in cinemas
- rehearsal or performing a recorded or broadcasted event, with restrictions:
  - Performers and employees must maintain 2 metre 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
- Performers and employees must maintain 2 metre 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