In response to many requests for clarification regarding the current Ontario Emergency Order, residents are asked to visit the Grey Bruce Health Unit website Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency to Address COVID-19 and the provincial website Enhancing public health and workplace safety measures in the province wide shutdown for details.
The Provincial regulations are summarized on their website including a dedicated section to explain, in detail, the rules of this lockdown. The summary includes the following:
“In response to the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases, a declaration of emergency was made on January 12, 2021 for all of Ontario.
This decision was made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts.
The declaration of emergency allows the government to:
· strengthen public health and workplace safety measures
· create and enforce emergency orders
The purpose is to help:
· keep people at home as much as possible and save lives
· stop the spread of COVID-19 in communities
· prevent the hospital system from becoming overwhelmed
· protect vulnerable populations and those who care for them
The enhanced public health and workplace safety measures are anticipated to be in place until at least February 9, 2021.
The results of these measures will be evaluated throughout the provincial emergency to determine when it is safe to lift any restrictions, or if they need to be extended.”
It should also be noted that business restrictions are contained in Reg 82/20 under the Re-Opening Ontario Act not the Emergency Order. The Act is renewed through Reg. 458/20 which currently states closure restrictions will remain in force until February 19.
“We are seeing the anticipated positive impacts of lockdown - the numbers of new cases reported daily, locally, and provincially are decreasing,” says Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra. “If this trend, and the tremendous efforts of our residents and stakeholders continues, I am confident that we will see a shift to a re-opening stage again in the near future.”
source: Grey Bruce Public Health
