During this challenging time, the Government of Ontario has taken exceptional measures to ensure the safety of Ontarians. This includes enacting emergency orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protections Act (EMPCA) requiring the legal closure
of certain businesses, as well as restricting attendance at public events, social gatherings, and meetings.
The CMRAO has received questions from condominium managers concerned about how COVID-19 impacts condominiums and their role as provider of an essential service in these unprecedented times.
The following resources are available to assist condominium managers, and will be updated as necessary to remain current during this constantly evolving situation:
Changes happen rapidly so condominium managers are strongly encouraged to follow the guidance offered by the government and public health authorities:
+ Official Sources of COVID-19 Information
Deployment of Employees of Service Provider Organizations [April 16, 2020]O. Reg. 114/20: Enforcement of Orders [March 31, 2020]O. Reg. 104/20: Closure of Outdoor Recreational Amenities [March 30, 2020]O. Reg. 106/20: Extensions and Renewals of Orders [March 30, 2020]O. Reg. 82/20: Closure of Places of Non-Essential Businesses [March 24, 2020]O. Reg. 76/20: Electronic Service [March 23, 2020]O. Reg. 73/20: Limitation Periods [March 20, 2020]O. Reg. 52/20: Organized Public Events, Certain Gatherings [March 18, 2020]O. Reg. 51/20: Closure of Establishments [March 18, 2020]Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act [March 17, 2020]
+ Recent Changes to Essential Services
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a third provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA). These measures are being taken in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, the threat on the province's hospital system capacity, and the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants.
Effective Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a province-wide Stay-at-Home order requiring everyone to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise , or for work that cannot be done remotely. As Ontario's health care capacity is threatened, the Stay-at-Home order, and other new and existing public health and workplace safety measures will work to preserve public health system capacity, safeguard vulnerable populations, allow for progress to be made with vaccinations and save lives.
Workplace Inspections
Health and safety inspectors and provincial offenses officers will increase inspections and enforcement at essential businesses in regional hot zones to continue protecting essential workers while on the job. There have been 19,500 COVID-related workplace inspections and investigations across the province since the beginning of 2021. During those visits, over 450 COVID-19 related tickets have been issued and OHS inspectors have issued over 14,446 OHS orders and stopped unsafe work related to COVID-19 a total of 24 times.
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is imposing a provincewide emergency brake as a result of an alarming surge in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the province. The
provincewide emergency brake will be effective Saturday, April 3, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. and the government intends to keep this in place for at least four weeks.
The provincewide emergency brake would put in place time-limited public health and workplace safety measures to help to stop the rapid transmission of COVID-19 variants in communities, protect hospital capacity and save lives. Measures include, but are
not limited to:
Prohibiting indoor organized public events and social gatherings and limiting the capacity for outdoor organized public events or social gatherings to a 5-person maximum, except for gatherings with members of the same household (the people you live
with) or gatherings of members of one household and one other person from another household who lives alone.
Restricting in-person shopping in all retail settings, including a 50 per cent capacity limit for supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers' markets, other stores that primarily sell food and pharmacies, and 25 per cent for
all other retail including big box stores, along with other public health and workplace safety measures;
Prohibiting personal care services;
Prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining. Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments will be permitted to operate by take-out, drive-through, and delivery only;
Prohibiting the use of facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness (e.g., gyms) with very limited exceptions;
Requiring day camps to close; and,
Limiting capacity at weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 15 per cent occupancy per room indoors, and to the number of individuals that can maintain two metres of physical distance outdoors. This does not include social
gatherings associated with these services such as receptions, which are not permitted indoors and are limited to five people outdoors.
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is moving Middlesex-London Health Unit to the Red-Control level in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. The decision was made at the request of the local medical
officer of health due to concerning trends in public health indicators in the region.
Based on the latest assessment of data, Middlesex-London Health Unit is being moved from its current level in the Framework to the Red-Control level effective Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. From March 22 to 28, 2021, the region's case rate increased
by 86.9 per cent, to 64.4 cases per 100,000 people. The public health region is also reporting an increase in cases screened as variants of concern.
Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is moving two public health regions to new levels in the COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open, including moving the City of Hamilton public health
region to the Grey-Lockdown level. Decisions were made in consultation with the local medical officers of health and are based on the trends in public health indicators and local context and conditions.
Based on the latest data, the following two public health regions will be moving from their current level in the Framework to the following levels effective Monday, March 29, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.:
Grey-Lockdown
City of Hamilton Public Health Services
Red-Control
Eastern Ontario Health Unit
In addition, effective today at 12:01 a.m., the government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health moved Timiskaming Health Unit to the Red-Control level in the Framework. The decision was made at the request of the local medical officer
of health due to the concerning trends in public health indicators in the region.
To further support businesses and promote fitness during the pandemic, the government is making limited, targeted adjustments to public health and workplace safety measures in the Grey-Lockdown level of the Framework, allowing the safe resumption of select
activities where the risk of COVID-19 transmission can be minimized. This includes:
Effective Monday, March 29, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., permitting outdoor fitness classes, outdoor training for team and individual sports and outdoor personal training, subject to public health and workplace safety measures, including, but not limited
to: a maximum of 10 patrons, every person maintaining a physical distance of at least three metres from another person, requiring a reservation and active patron screening.
Effective Monday, March 29, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., permitting marinas and boating clubs to operate clubhouses or any restaurant, bar and other food or drink establishment for outdoor dining, subject to public health and workplace safety measures.
Effective Monday, April 12, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., personal care service settings including but not limited to barber shops, hair and nail salons, and body art establishments, will be permitted to operate at 25 per cent capacity or five patrons (whichever
is less) subject to physical distancing, including by appointment only, and other public health and workplace safety measures.
The province is also modifying outdoor capacity limits for weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies held in regions in all levels of the Framework. Effective Monday, March 29, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., capacity limits for weddings, funerals,
and religious services, rites or ceremonies, will be adjusted to allow for the number of individuals that can maintain two metres of physical distance. This change does not apply to social gatherings associated with these services, such as receptions.
Targeted enforcements are being applied, with an enhanced focus in public health regions identified in the Yellow-Protect, Orange-Restrict, Red-Control and Grey-Lockdown levels. This includes conducting field visits to check for compliance with the Reopening
Ontario Act.
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is moving Timiskaming Health Unit to the Red-Control level in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. The decision was made at the request of the local medical officer
of health due to the concerning trends in public health indicators in the region.
Based on the latest assessment of data, Timiskaming Health Unit is being moved from its current level in the Framework to the Red-Control level effective Friday, March 26, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., as a result of a rapid worsening of trends in key health indicators
in the region. From March 16 to 22, 2021, the region's case rate increased from 3.1 to 24.5 cases per 100,000 people, an increase of 700 per cent. The public health unit also reports that additional cases are expected over the next few days.
On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is moving eight public health regions to new levels in the COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open. Decisions were made in consultation with the local medical
officers of health and are based on the trends in public health indicators and local context and conditions.
Based on the latest data, the following eight public health regions will be moving from their current level in the Framework to the following levels effective Monday, March 22, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.:
Red-Control
Brant County Health Unit;
Chatham-Kent Public Health; and
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.
Orange-Restrict
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
Yellow-Protect
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health;
North Bay Parry Sound District;
Porcupine Health Unit; and
Timiskaming Health Unit.
In consultation with the local medical officers of health and based on current trends, which has seen increasing case rates and per cent test positivity rates in the last week, the Peel and Toronto Public Health regions will remain in the Grey-Lockdown
level at this time. The government will continue to work with the local medical officers of health to determine what targeted adjustments to public health measures may be made to allow for some outdoor activities where the risk of transmission is
minimized.
In addition, effective today at 12:01 a.m., the government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health moved Ottawa Public Health to the Red-Control level in the Framework. The decision was made at the request of the local medical officer
of health due to the concerning trends in public health indicators in the region.
To support the province's economic recovery, the government is cautiously adjusting dining capacity limits at restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, for regions in the Grey-Lockdown, Red-Control and Orange-Restrict levels of the Framework,
effective Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
For regions in the Orange-Restrict and Red-Control levels, capacity limits for indoor dining will be adjusted and based on a standard, scalable calculation that will allow for up to approximately 50 per cent of the indoor dining area to be accessible
to the public, subject to physical distancing rules. The total occupancy cannot exceed 50 patrons in Red-Control and 100 patrons in Orange-Restrict.
In addition, while indoor dining continues to be prohibited for areas in the Grey-Lockdown level of the Framework, outdoor dining would be permitted for regions in Grey-Lockdown, subject to physical distancing rules and a number of other public health
and workplace safety measures.
To ensure the continued safety of patrons and workers, public health and safety measures in indoor and outdoor settings would be strengthened in the Orange-Restrict, Red-Control and Grey-Lockdown levels in the Framework. These measures include, but are
not limited to:
Limiting tables for indoor dining to members of the same household with exemptions for patrons who live alone and caregivers;
Limiting tables for outdoor dining in Grey-Lockdown to members of the same household with exemptions for patrons who live alone and caregivers; and
A sign posted by the establishment in a location visible to the public that states the maximum capacity (number of patrons) they are permitted to operate under.
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario Government is moving the Ottawa Public Health region to the Red-Control level in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. The decision was made at the request of the local medical
officer of health due to the concerning trends in public health indicators in the region.
Based on the latest assessment of data, Ottawa Public Health is being moved from its current level in the Framework to the Red-Control level effective Friday, March 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., as a result of worsening trends in key health indicators in the
region. From March 10 to 15, 2021, Ottawa Public Health's case rate increased by 24.8 per cent, to 46.8 cases per 100,000 people. In addition, COVID-19 wastewater signal data in Ottawa is worsening.
The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to consult with public health and other experts, review data, and provide advice to the government on the appropriate and effective measures that are needed to protect the health of Ontarians.
On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is moving three public health regions to new levels in the revised and strengthened Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework, including moving Lambton Public Health into Grey-Lockdown.
Decisions were made in consultation with the local medical officers of health and are based on the trends in public health indicators and local context and conditions.
Based on the latest data, the following three public health regions will be moving from their current level in the Framework to the following levels effective Monday, March 15, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.:
Grey-Lockdown
Red-Control
Yellow—Protect
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.
In addition, effective today at 12:01 a.m., the government, on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, activated an "emergency brake" in the Public Health Sudbury and Districts region, moving it to the Grey-Lockdown level. The decision was
made due to the concerning trends in public health indicators and in consultation with the local medical officer of health.
On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario Government is activating an "emergency brake" in the Public Health Sudbury and Districts region, and moving it to the Grey-Lockdown level in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework.
The decision was made due to the concerning trends in public health indicators and in consultation with the local medical officer of health.
Based on the latest assessment of data, the "emergency brake" is being used to stop the spread, guard against variants and protect public health and health system capacity in the region. From March 3 to 9, 2021, the region's case rate increased by 54.1
per cent to 75.9 cases per 100,000 people.
The public health region will move to Grey-Lockdown effective Friday, March 12, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
The Ontario Government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is transitioning Toronto, Peel and North Bay Parry Sound District public health regions out of the shutdown and into the revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework:
Keeping Ontario Safe and Open (the "Framework"), with the Stay-at-Home order no longer in effect. In addition, seven other public health regions are being moved to new levels in the Framework. All decisions were made in consultation with the local
medical officers of health and are based on the latest trends in public health indicators and local context and conditions.
Based on a general improvement in trends of key indicators, North Bay Parry Sound District will be returning to the Framework at the Red-Control level. Toronto Public Health and Peel Public Health are also making progress, but as their case rates still
remain high, they will return to the Framework at the Grey-Lockdown level.
In addition, based on the latest data, the following seven public health regions will also be moving to the following levels in the Framework:
Red—Control
Peterborough Public Health;
Public Health Sudbury and Districts; and
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.
Orange—Restrict
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit; and
Timiskaming Health Unit.
Yellow—Protect
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit; and
Renfrew County and District Health Unit.
All changes will be effective Monday, March 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. Please visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse for the full list of public health region classifications.
The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is moving nine public health regions to new levels in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework (the "Framework"). This includes activating an "emergency brake" in Thunder
Bay District Health Unit and Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit to move the regions to Grey-Lockdown to immediately interrupt transmission and contain community spread. Decisions were made in consultation with the local medical officers of health
and are based on the trends in public health indicators and local context and conditions.
Based on the latest data, the following public health regions will move from their current level in the Framework to the following levels effective Monday, March 1, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.:
Grey-Lockdown:
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit; and
Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
Red-Control:
Niagara Region Public Health.
Orange-Restrict:
Chatham-Kent Public Health;
Middlesex-London Health Unit; and
Southwestern Public Health.
Yellow-Protect:
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit; and
Huron Perth Public Health.
Green-Prevent:
Based on the latest assessment of data the "emergency brake" is being used to place Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit into Grey-Lockdown, helping to stop the spread of the virus and protect public health and health
system capacity in the regions. This is due to a rapid worsening in key public health indicators, as well as a high presence of variants in the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit that continue to increase - the highest in the province.
In Peel Public Health, Toronto Public Health, and North Bay Parry Sound District, the Shutdown measures and the Stay-at-Home order will continue to apply until at least Monday, March 8, 2021, with final decisions to be based on key public health indicators
and consultation with the local medical officers of health. All other public health regions will remain at their current level. Please visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse for the full list of public health region classifications.
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the local medical officers of health, the Ontario government is maintaining the shutdown, the Stay-at-Home order and all existing public health and workplace safety measures for an additional
two weeks in the Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions, along with the North Bay-Parry Sound District. The York Public Health Region will transition out of the shutdown and into the revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario
Safe and Open.
In the Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions, and the North Bay-Parry Sound District, the shutdown measures and the Stay-at-Home order will continue to apply until at least Monday, March 8, 2021, based on key public health indicators and following consultation
with the local medical officers of health. While the Peel and Toronto regions have seen a reduction in COVID-19 transmission from the period of February 8 to 17, 2021, rates still remain too high in the regions, with case rates of 83.4 cases per 100,000
people for Peel and 67.9 cases per 100,000 people for Toronto, both well above the provincial average. During this same period of time, North Bay Parry Sound District has also seen its case rate increase by 11.5 per cent to 14.6 cases per 100,000
people. Variants of concern also remain a serious risk to community transmission and health system capacity.
Based on a general improvement in trends of key indicators, York Region Public Health will be moving back to the Framework at the Red-Control level and will no longer be subject to the Stay-at-Home order. In addition, Lambton Public Health will be moving
from the Orange-Restrict level to the Red-Control level as a result worsening public health trends in the region over the past week. These changes will come into effect on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
After returning to the Framework, public health regions are required to stay in their level for at least two weeks. The government will then assess the impact of public health and workplace safety measures to determine if the region should stay where
it is or be moved to a different level. Public health regions may be moved to a higher level within the two-week window, if necessary, based on the set indicators and thresholds outlined in the Framework. In addition, Ontario has introduced an "emergency
brake" to allow the Chief Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the local medical officer of health, to immediately advise moving a region into Grey-Lockdown to interrupt transmission.
