Chamber News

Ontario is issuing an order requiring residents to stay at home starting Thursday, January 14, except for essential activities such as accessing health care, shopping for groceries, essential work for for outdoor exercise.

The enhanced public health and workplace safety measures are in effect for all of Ontario and are anticipated to be in place until at least Thursday, February 11, 2021.

The premier announced the restrictions following new projections that show the virus is on track to overwhelm Ontario's health-care system.

"The latest modelling data shows that Ontario is in a crisis and, with the current trends, our hospital ICUs will be overwhelmed in a few short weeks with unthinkable consequences," Ford states in a release. "That's why we are taking urgent and decisive action, which includes declaring a provincial emergency and imposing a stay-at-home-order.

(UPDATED) Public Health Measures include:

Work from Home Except Where Necessary
Each person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall ensure that any person who performs work for the business or organization conducts their work remotely, with limited exception, for instance, where the nature of their work requires them to be on-site at the workplace. 

Physical Distancing
Every person in a place of business or facility that is open to the public shall maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person except from their caregiver or other members of the person’s household, with limited exceptions.

Face Coverings
Every person in the premises of a business or organization that is open shall ensure that they wear a mask or face covering that covers their mouth, nose and chin, when they are in indoor areas of the premises, with limited exemptions. 

READ THE FULL RELEASE FROM THE PROVINCE

Click here for PDF with information about the state of emergency in Ontario, effective January 13, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Updated information is shown in 'red'.

Additional Resources

• Ontario Continues to Support Employers and Workers during COVID-19
• Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine web page to view the latest provincial data and information on COVID-19 vaccines.
• Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect the people of Ontario from COVID-19.
• If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
• To find the right supports, visit COVID-19: Support for People, which has information about the many available and free mental health services and supports.
• To stay safe, you can download the COVID Alert App free from the Apple and Google Play app stores.