Premier Doug Ford has announced a province-wide lockdown will begin on Boxing Day.
Ford says it was a hard, but necessary decision to control the spread of COVID-19.
The lockdown will last for at least 28 days in Southern Ontario and 14 in the north.
So, what businesses are considered essential? The list has been narrowed.
Businesses, organizations and services permitted to open under the Provincewide Shutdown and any sector-specific public health and workplace safety measures include:
- Supply chain • Businesses that supply businesses or places that are permitted to open within Ontario, or that supply businesses or services that have been declared essential in a jurisdiction outside of Ontario, with the support, products, supplies, systems, or services, including processing, packaging, warehousing, distribution, delivery, and maintenance necessary to operate.
- Meeting or event space • Only permitted to open for:
• The operation of child care centres and authorized recreational and skill building programs within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
• Court services
• Government services
• Mental health and addictions support services (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) permitted to a maximum of 10 people
• Social services - Short-term rentals (e.g., cottages, cabins):
• Only to be provided to individuals who are in need of housing
• Does not apply to short-term rental accommodations that were reserved before the Safe at Home Restrictions period - Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments
• Take out, drive through, and delivery permitted only
• Includes the sale of alcohol - In-person driving instruction
• No in-person driving instruction permitted except:
o For instruction for drivers of commercial motor vehicles
o Where the instruction is part of the Ontario Driver Certification Program administered by the Ministry of Transportation and involves the operation of motor vehicles for which:
▪ A class of driver’s licence other than Class G, G1, G2, M, M1 or M2 is required - Retailers Supermarkets, convenience stores, indoor farmer’s markets and other stores that primarily sell food
• Open for in-person retail, subject to:
o Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility
o The number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public does not exceed 50% capacity of the particular room
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted - Pharmacies
• Open for in-person retail, subject to:
o Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility
o The number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public does not exceed 50% capacity of the particular room
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted - Discount and big box retailers:
Discount and big box retailers that engage in retail sales to the public and meet the following conditions:
• Sell groceries to the public
• Limit the number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public in the business to not exceed 25% capacity of the particular room
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted - Safety supply stores, businesses that sell, rent or repair assistive/mobility/medical devices, and optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public:
• By appointment only
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted - Stores that sell liquor, including beer, wine and spirits:
• Limit the number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public in the business does not exceed 25% of the particular room
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted - Shopping malls:
• Closed for in-person retail. Members of the public are only permitted to enter the mall to:
o Access businesses and organizations permitted to be open (e.g., pharmacy, dentist); food court open for take-away, or by appointment only to facilitate pick-up
o Access court services and government services
• Members of the public not permitted to loiter in any area of the shopping mall that is not related to the purpose of their visit - Cannabis retail stores operating under the authority of a retail store authorization issued under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018:
• By curbside pick-up or delivery only - Garden centres:
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted - Motor vehicle sales
• Includes cars, trucks and motorcycles; recreational vehicles including motor homes; trailers and travel trailers; boats and other watercraft; and other motorized vehicles, including power-assisted bicycles, golf carts, scooters, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles
• By appointment only
• Members of the public must not be permitted where products are neither sold nor displayed for sale - Outdoor markets
• Includes farmer’s markets and holiday markets only if they primarily sell food to the public
• Must require members of the public to remain outdoors at all times, including for curbside pick-up or delivery - General Retail (all other retail, including hardware stores, pet food, computer stores, etc.):
• Curbside pick-up or delivery only (in-person retail shopping not permitted)
• Sales must be exclusively made so patrons are not required to enter the indoor area of the business, including curbside pick-up or delivery - Services Rental and leasing services, including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental
• By appointment only - Gas stations and other fuel suppliers
- Automated and self-service car washes
- Laundromats and drycleaners
- Snow clearing and landscaping services
- Domestic services
• Only to support children, seniors or vulnerable persons, including housekeeping, cooking, indoor and outdoor cleaning and maintenance services - Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services
• By appointment only - Courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services
- Funeral and related services
- Veterinary services
• For services that are necessary for the immediate health and welfare of the animal only, or provided through curb side pick-up and drop-off of the animal
• Other businesses that provide for the health and welfare of animals, including farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters and research facilities
• Businesses that provide pet training exclusively for service animals - Hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences
• Any indoor pools, indoor fitness centres, or other indoor recreational facilities that are part of the operation of these businesses, are CLOSED. - Seasonal campgrounds
• Must be made available only for trailers and recreational vehicles used by individuals in need of housing or are permitted to be there by seasonal contract
• Only campsites with electricity, water service and facilities for sewage disposal may be provided for use
• All recreational and other shared facilities, excluding washrooms and showers must be closed
• Other areas of the seasonal campground must be closed to the general public and must only be opened for the purpose of preparing the seasonal campground for reopening] - Community centres
• Permitted to open for:
o The operation of child care centres and authorized recreational and skill building programs within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
o Mental health and addictions support services (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) permitted to a maximum of 10 people
o Social services - Financial services • Capital markets and related securities trading and advisory services
• Banking/credit union activities including credit intermediation
• Insurance
• Land registration services
• Pension and benefits payment services
• Financial services including payroll and payment processing and accounting and tax services - Real estate (including pre-sale construction)
• No open houses – showing a property permitted by appointment only - Telecommunications and IT infrastructure/service providers
Information Technology (IT) services, including online services, software products and the facilities necessary for their operation and delivery
Telecommunications providers and services (phone, internet, radio, cell phones etc.) and facilities necessary for their operation and delivery
• Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service may only permit members of the public to enter the premises by appointment and only for repairs or technical support - Newspapers, radio and television broadcasting
- Maintenance • Maintenance, repair and property management services that manage and maintain the safety, security, sanitation and operation of institutional, commercial, industrial and residential properties and buildings
- Transportation services
• Businesses and facilities that provide transportation services, including:
o Transportation services provided by air, water, road, and rail, including taxis and other private transportation providers, and
o Support services for transportation services, including:
▪ logistical support, distribution services, warehousing and storage, truck stops and tow operators, and
▪ services that support the operations and safety of transportation systems including maintenance and repairs
o Marinas, boating clubs and other organizations that maintain docking facilities for members or patrons with conditions - Manufacturing • Businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials, including businesses that manufacture inputs to other manufacturers (e.g. primary metal/ steel, blow molding, component manufacturers, chemicals, etc. that feed the end-product manufacturer), regardless of whether those other manufacturers are inside or outside of Ontario, together with businesses that support and facilitate the movement of goods within integrated North American and global supply chains
- Agriculture and food production
• Businesses that produce food and beverages, and agricultural products including plants, including by farming, harvesting, aquaculture, hunting and fishing
• Businesses that process, manufacture or distribute food, beverages, crops, agricultural products, animal products and by-products
• Businesses that support the food or agricultural products supply chains and the health and safety of food, animals and plants - Construction • Construction activities or projects and related services that support construction activities or projects, including demolition services
• Land surveyors - Resources and energy
• Businesses that provide and ensure the domestic and global continuity of supply of resources, including, resource exploration, mining, forestry,
aggregates, petroleum, petroleum by-products and chemicals
• Electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage and natural gas distribution, transmission and storage - Community services Businesses that deliver or support the delivery of community services including:
• Sewage treatment and disposal
• Collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste
• Potable drinking water
• Critical infrastructure repair and maintenance including roads, dams, bridges etc.
• Environmental rehabilitation, management and monitoring, and spill clean-up and response
• Administrative authorities that regulate and inspect businesses
• Professional and social services that support the legal and justice system
• Government services including but not limited to policing and law enforcement, fire and emergency services, paramedics, coroner and pathology services, corrections and court services, licences and permits
• Allotment gardens or community gardens - Facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness activities
• CLOSURE of all indoor and outdoor sports and recreational fitness facilities except for:
o Facilities operated or for the sole use of high performance athletes, including parasport athletes, and specified professional leagues (e.g. NHL, CFL, MLS, NBA) and
o Facilities opened solely for specified purposes (e.g. child care)
• Community centres and multi-purpose facilities (e.g., YMCA) allowed to be open for permitted activities (e.g., child care services, mental health and addiction support services [limited to 10 people maximum], social services - Outdoor recreational amenities
• Outdoor recreational amenities permitted to open include:
o Parks and recreational areas
o Baseball diamonds
o Batting cages
o Soccer, football and sports fields
o Tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts
o Basketball courts
o BMX parks
o Skate parks
o Golf courses and driving ranges
o Frisbee golf locations
o Cycling tracks and bike trails
o Horse riding facilities
o Shooting ranges, including those operated by rod and gun clubs
o Ice rinks
o Snowmobile, cross country, dogsledding, ice-skating and snow-shoe trails
o Playgrounds
o Portions of parks or recreational areas containing outdoor fitness equipment
o Tobogganing hills and skating trails
o Ski hills are CLOSED - Research • Businesses and organizations that maintain research facilities and engage in research, including medical research and other research and development activities
- Health care and social services
• Organizations and providers that deliver home care services or personal support services to seniors and persons with disabilities
• Regulated health professionals
• Professionals or organizations that provide in-person counselling services
• Organizations that provide health care including retirement homes, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, independent health facilities and mental health and addictions counselling supports
• Laboratories and specimen collection centres
• Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies, including medications, medical isotopes, vaccines and antivirals, medical devices and medical supplies
• Manufacturers, distributors and businesses that provide logistical support of or for products and/or services that support the delivery of health care in all locations
• Organizations that provide critical personal support services in home or residential services for individuals with physical disabilities
• Organizations that support the provision of food, shelter, safety or protection, and/or social services and other necessities of life to economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable individuals - Media industries Sound recording, production, publishing and distribution businesses
- Film and television production, including all supporting activities such as hair, makeup and wardrobe:
• No studio audiences permitted to be on the film or television set
• No more than 10 performers may be permitted to be on the film or television set
• Set must be configured and operated in such a way as to enable persons on the set to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from other persons, except where necessary for the filming of the film or television production
• Persons who provide hair or makeup services must wear appropriate personal protective equipment
• Singers and players of brass or wind instruments must be separated from any other performers by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier - Film and television postproduction, visual effects and animation studios
- Book and periodical production, publishing and distribution businesses
- Commercial and industrial photography
• Does not permit retail studios to open - Interactive digital media businesses, including:
• Computer system software or application developers and publishers, and
• Video game developers and publishers - Entertainment Concert venues, theatres and cinemas
• May open for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance with conditions, including:
o No spectators may be permitted in the concert venue, theatre or cinema
o No more than 10 performers may be permitted in the concert venue, theatre or venue
o Every performer and other person who performs work for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person, except,
▪ if it is necessary for the performers or other persons to be closer to each other for purposes of the performance or rehearsal, or
▪ where necessary for the purposes of health and safety
o Singers and players of brass or wind instruments must be separated from any other performers by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier
o Contact information recording required
• No drive-in or drive-through events - Libraries may open:
• For contactless curbside, delivery, and pick-up
• For permitted services (e.g., child care services, mental health and addiction support services to a limit of 10 persons [AA meetings], provision of social services)
• If they ensure that circulating materials returned to the library are disinfected or quarantined for an appropriate period of time before they are recirculated - Museums and cultural amenities CLOSED
- Horse racing • Training only, no races, no members of the public (i.e., spectators)
- Night clubs and strip clubs
• Only permitted to open if they operate as a food or drink establishment, subject to conditions that apply to restaurants and bars, etc - Zoos and aquariums Zoos and aquariums: CLOSED to the public • Permitted to operate for the care of animals
• Amusement parks, water parks closed
• Bathhouses and sex clubs closed
• Tour and guide services closed
• Motorsports closed
• Personal care services closed
• Casinos, Bingo Halls and Gaming Establishments closed
On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, all Ontarians are advised to stay home as much as possible with trips outside the home limited to necessities such as food, medication, medical appointments, or supporting vulnerable community members.
Elementary students will return one week later than scheduled on Jan. 11, while high school students will start remote learning on Jan. 11 and return to class on Jan. 25.
The province says it will also be launching the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will provide up to $20,000 to help hundreds of thousands of businesses.
For more details on the lockdown, please click here.
We saw this morning's modelling that our COVID-19 numbers are accelerating at an alarming rate. We've seen a 70% increase in hospitalizations & 80% increase in ICU admissions in the past few weeks.
If we fail to take action now, the consequences could be catastrophic. pic.twitter.com/oZyo5QrLgt
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) December 22, 2020
Today, our government ordered a province-wide shutdown to break the current trend of COVID-19 transmission.
We need everyone to stay at home as much as possible to stop the spread. As Premier, it's my duty to make the difficult but necessary decisions that will save lives. pic.twitter.com/rMbQYscej3
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) December 22, 2020
We cannot keep delaying life saving surgeries because of COVID-19.
We all need to step up and do what’s necessary to protect the health of our most vulnerable and preserve capacity in our ICUs and hospitals. pic.twitter.com/RNXZT1es7g
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) December 22, 2020