Ontario is extending the stay-at-home order to combat the third wave of COVID-19.
Starting immediately, it’s being extended another two weeks, lasting until at least May 20..
Premier Doug Ford is announcing the latest restrictions after modelling showed the province could see 10,000 cases per day by the end of next month without tighter public health measures.
Ford says the province is “losing the battle” between contagious COVID-19 variants and the vaccines, but hopes this can turn the situation around.
In an effort to stop the virus from spreading, you won’t be allowed to gather outdoors with anyone outside your household starting 12:01 AM Saturday.
Starting on Monday, Ontario is tightening restrictions further.
Those include restricting non-essential travel into Ontario from the provinces of Manitoba and Quebec.
Checkpoints will be set up at the boundary.
The new rules give police the power to question anyone who’s outside their home about their purpose for being outside.
The Premier is also lowering capacity limits for grocery stores and pharmacies to 25% of their normal capacity.
The government also intends to implement the following public health and workplace safety measures effective Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.:
-Prohibit all outdoor social gatherings and organized public events, except for with members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone or a caregiver for any member of the household;
-Close all non-essential workplaces in the construction sector;
-Reduce capacity limits to 25 per cent in all retail settings where in-store shopping is permitted. This includes supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers’ markets, other stores that primarily sell food and pharmacies; and Close all outdoor recreational amenities, such as golf courses, basketball courts, soccer fields, and playgrounds with limited exceptions.
-In addition, effective Monday, April 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is limiting the capacity of weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 10 people indoors or outdoors. Prohibiting social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions, except for with members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone. Drive-in services will be permitted.
