The shutdown and stay-at-home orders have lifted in the Porcupine Health Unit region.
The Timmins area is now in the Orange - Restrict level of Ontario's COVID-19 Response Framework. It means businesses can reopen with enhanced measures, restrictions and enforcement avoiding any closures. Public safety measures such as wearing a mask, physical distancing, washing your hands often and well, and staying home if you're unwell remain in place.
While the stay-at-home order is over, the province is still strongly advising people to stay at home as much as possible, avoid social gatherings, limit close contacts to people in your household, work from home if possible, and avoid travel except for essential reasons.
Here are some of the limitations for being in the Orange zone, according to the province:
- Events and social gatherings in private homes, back yards and parks are limited to 10 indoors and 25 outdoors
- Organized public events and social gatherings in staffed businesses and facilities are limited to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors
- Religious, wedding and funeral services are limited to 30 per cent capacity indoors and 100 people outdoors
- All open businesses must post signage at all entrances informing people how to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms.
- Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments are limited to 50 people indoors and four people per table. No buffet type service is allowed, a limit of four people can be seated together, and contact information is required for all people. Liquor can only be sold or served between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and the businesses must close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Salons and personal care service businesses can open. Services that require removal of face coverings are not permitted. Steam rooms and saunas are closed.
- Sports and recreational fitness facilities limited to 10 people per class indoors, 50 people in areas with weights and machines, 25 people per class outdoors. Face coverings are required except when exercising. Ski hills can open.
- Stores (not including indoor malls) must have passive screening for patrons, such as posting signs outside about not entering if you have COVID-19 symptoms. A safety plan is also required and made available upon request.
- Bingo halls and gaming establishments can open, with a maximum of 50 people per facility, where physical distancing can be maintained.
- Cinemas can open with capacity limits.
- Visitor restrictions for long-term care homes apply once the region is in Orange or higher.
- The Service Timmins office at city hall is open again. The city is expected to release information soon about reopening facilities such as arenas, the pool and museum.
Today, 27 health units across the province are transitioning out of the shutdown measures. Three regions had the precautions lifted last week.
Four high-risk regions — Peel, Toronto, York and North Bay Parry Sound District — where the case numbers have been the highest, will keep the shutdown and stay-at-home measures until at least Feb. 22.
Regions returning to the framework will stay at the level for at least two weeks. At that point, the government will assess the impact of public health and workplace safety measures to determine if the level should change.
Orders in place under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) have been extended to Feb. 23. A full list of emergency orders under the EMPCA are available on the e-Laws website and at Ontario.ca/alert.
A full breakdown of all the levels and restrictions is available here.
