Toronto and Peel heading into lockdown as COVID-19 cases continue to surge

On November 20, 2020, the government of Ontario announced Toronto and Peel will be placed into the Lockdown classification of the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework as of Monday, November 23, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. This move is in response to the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in the regions.

The measures under Lockdown include, but are not limited to:‎

• Schools, before and after school programs, and child care will remain open;‎
• Post-secondary schools open for virtual learning with some limited exceptions for ‎training that can only be provided in-person, such as clinical training or training ‎related to a trade;‎
• No indoor organized public events or social gatherings except with members of the ‎same household. Individuals who live alone, including seniors, may consider ‎having exclusive, close contact with one other person;‎
• Outdoor organized public events or social gatherings limited to a maximum of 10 ‎people;‎
• Wedding services, funeral services and religious services, rites or ceremonies ‎where physical distancing can be maintained can have up to 10 people indoors ‎or 10 people outdoors;‎
• Retail permitted to be open for curbside pick-up or delivery only, with certain ‎exceptions such as for supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware ‎stores, discount and big box retailers selling groceries, beer, wine and liquor ‎stores, safety supply stores, and convenience stores, which will be allowed to ‎operate at 50 per cent capacity;‎
• Restaurants, bars, and food and drink establishments will only be able to provide ‎takeout, drive-through and delivery. Indoor and outdoor dining services are ‎prohibited;‎
• Personal care services closed;‎
• Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments closed; and
• Indoor sports and recreational facilities, including pools, closed with limited ‎exceptions.‎

Additionally, the following changes were made to the classification of health units in Ontario and will also go into effect on Monday, November 23, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.:

• Red-Control
  • Durham Region Health Department; and
  • Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services.‎

• Orange-Restrict
  • Huron Perth Public Health;‎
  • Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit;‎
  • Southwestern Public Health; and
  • Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.‎
• Yellow-Protect
  • Chatham-Kent Public Health;‎
  • Eastern Ontario Health Unit;‎
  • Grey Bruce Health Unit;‎
  • Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health;‎
  • Peterborough Public Health; and
  • Thunder Bay District Health Unit.‎

The government of Ontario and public health officials will continue to monitor the situation and have ‎warned additional measures may be taken if the COVID-19 outbreak continues to worsen.‎

The full COVID-10 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Ontario can be accessed here.

We will continue to monitor and provide updates as soon as they become available. The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving with new measures being adopted ‎or modified at both ‎the ‎federal and provincial level. For further information, please consult our ‎Coronavirus Resource ‎Centre or feel free to contact any member of our DLA Piper Canadian Employment and ‎Labour Law Service ‎Group, who will ‎ensure that you are acting upon the most up-to-date information.‎

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