It’s week one of the so-called provincewide Emergency Brake.
The Ontario government says the decision was made as a result of an alarming surge in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations, with the intentions of keeping it in place for at least four weeks.
The changes affect all 34 health units across the province.
As usual, people are asked to limit trips outside the home for essential purposes, while indoor organized public events and social gatherings are prohibited.
Personal care services like haircuts, tattoos and spas are closed, along with gyms and fitness centres.
Restaurants are allowed to operate by take-out, drive-thru and delivery.
For more details, please click here.
Meanwhile, Canada hit a grim milestone on Saturday when the country officially surpassed one million COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.
All 34 #PublicHealth unit regions are moving into shutdown. To support youth and working families, schools and child care remain open during the shutdown with stringent health and safety measures.
Learn about the public health measures you need to follow: https://t.co/zJZI8m9dLe pic.twitter.com/Igz0XqbizS— Doug Ford (@fordnation) April 2, 2021
Effective April 3 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario is imposing a provincewide emergency brake as a result of an alarming surge in case numbers and #COVID19 hospitalizations across the province. This will be in place for at least four weeks. pic.twitter.com/8nWvYwmg6X
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) April 3, 2021
We are into a third wave of COVID-19, a wave being driven by new variants that made their way through our borders. The number of positive cases involving variants has gone up more than 10% in the last week alone.
We need to do whatever it takes to get this virus under control. pic.twitter.com/srh1x2rvLQ
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) April 4, 2021