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
Unmonitored and private social gatherings include functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks and other recreational areas.
The new limit on the number of people allowed to attend an unmonitored private social gathering across the province is:
10 people at an indoor event or gathering (previous limit of 50);
or 25 people at an outdoor event or gathering (previous limit of 100).
Indoor and outdoor events and gatherings cannot be merged together. Gatherings of 35 (25 outdoors and 10 indoors) are not permitted.
On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer Health and the local medical officer of health, Windsor-Essexwill be allowed to move into Stage 3 on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. The decision was based on positive local trends of key public health
indicators, including lower transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, public health capacity to conduct rapid case and contact management, and a significant increase in testing.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will join the rest of the province's 33 public health regions that entered into Stage 3 on July 17,
24 and 31, 2020 respectively.
The Ontario government is allowing seven more regions to enter Stage 3 on Friday, increasing the number of businesses and public spaces that will reopen across the province. This decision was made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health
and is based on positive local trends of key public health indicators, including lower or low transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, public health capacity to conduct rapid case and contact management, and a significant increase in testing.
The following public health units will be allowed to move into Stage 3 on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.:
Durham Region Health Department;
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit;
Halton Region Health Department;
Hamilton Public Health Services;
Lambton Health Unit;
Niagara Region Public Health Department; and
York Region Public Health Services.
These regions will join the 24 public health regions that entered into Stage 3 on Friday, July 17, 2020. For more information on the
restrictions that will remain in place during Stage 3, as well as the public health and workplace safety restrictions necessary to keep people safe, visit Ontario.ca/reopen .
The following regions will remain in Stage 2 until local trends of key public health indicators demonstrate readiness to move into Stage 3:
Peel Public Health;
Toronto Public Health; and
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
As part of the Stage 3 reopening, Ontario will be increasing gathering limits for those regions entering the next stage to the following:
Indoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people;
Outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people;
Gathering limits are subject to physical distancing requirements.
Public gathering limits apply to indoor and outdoor events, such as community events or gatherings, concerts, live shows, festivals, conferences, sports and recreational fitness activities, fundraisers, fairs, festivals or open houses. A two metre distance
must still be maintained at such events. Regions remaining in Stage 2 will maintain the existing gathering limit of 10. Social circles in all stages at this point will also be kept to a maximum of 10 people province-wide, regardless of stage. The
Chief Medical Officer of Health, public health experts and other officials have advised the following, high-risk places and activities are not yet safe to open, even if a region has entered Stage 3, due to the likelihood of large crowds congregating,
difficulties with physical distancing, or challenges maintaining the proper cleaning and sanitation required to prevent the spread of COVID‑19:
Amusement parks and water parks;
Buffet-style food services;
Dancing at restaurants and bars, other than by performers hired by the establishment following specific requirements;
Overnight stays at camps for children;
Private karaoke rooms;
Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports;
Saunas, steam rooms, bath houses and oxygen bars;
Table games at casinos and gaming establishments.
For more information on the restrictions that will remain in place during Stage 3, as well as the public health guidance necessary to keep the people of Ontario safe, visit Ontario.ca/reopen .
The following public health unit regions will be allowed to move into Stage 3 first, on Friday, July 17, 2020:
Algoma Public Health
Brant County Health Unit
Chatham-Kent Public Health
Eastern Ontario Health Unit
Grey Bruce Health Unit
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Huron Perth Public Health
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
Middlesex-London Health Unit
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
Northwestern Health Unit
Ottawa Public Health
Peterborough Public Health
Porcupine Health Unit
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
Renfrew County and District Health Unit
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
Southwestern Public Health
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Timiskaming Health Unit
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
Businesses and municipalities will be permitted to enter Stage 3 based on their region and, as in the previous stages, may choose to take more time before reopening. For a list of regions that will remain in Stage 2, visit Ontario.ca/reopen .
The Ontario government is allowing Windsor-Essex to move into Stage 2 of reopening on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., with the exception of the Municipality of Leamington and the Town of Kingsville. These areas are being held back due to the higher
transmission rates in the local agriculture and agri-food sector. This decision was made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the local Medical Officer of Health of Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Toronto Public Health and Peel Public Health will enter Stage 2 on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. They will join the 31 other public health regions that entered Stage 2 on
June 12 and 19, 2020.
Informed by public health advice and workplace safety guidance, and supported by the collective efforts of businesses, workers and families to limit the potential spread of the virus, the latest public health unit regions allowed to move into Stage 2
on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. are:
Durham Region Health Department;
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit;
Halton Region Health Department;
Hamilton Public Health Services;
Lambton Health Unit;
Niagara Region Public Health Department; and
York Region Public Health Services.
Public health unit regions allowed to move into Stage 2 on Friday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. include:
Algoma Public Health
Brant County Health Unit
Chatham-Kent Public Health
Eastern Ontario Health Unit
Grey Bruce Health Unit
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Huron Perth Public Health
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
Middlesex-London Health Unit
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
Northwestern Health Unit
Ottawa Public Health
Peterborough Public Health
Porcupine Health Unit
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
Renfrew County and District Health Unit
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
Southwestern Public Health
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Timiskaming Health Unit
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
Effective Friday, June 12, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., the province will increase the limit on social gatherings from five to 10 people across the province, regardless of whether a region has moved to Stage 2. Additionally, all places of worship in Ontario will
also be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and attendance limited to no more than 30 per cent of the building capacity to ensure the safety of worshippers.
Businesses and services permitted to reopen with proper health and safety measures in place in regions entering Stage 2 include:
Outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other establishments, including patios, curbside, parking lots and adjacent properties;
Select personal and personal care services with the proper health and safety measures in place, including tattoo parlours, barber shops, hair salons and beauty salons;
Shopping malls under existing restrictions, including food services reopening for take-out and outdoor dining only;
Tour and guide services, such as bike and walking, bus and boat tours, as well as tasting and tours for wineries, breweries and distilleries;
Water recreational facilities such as outdoor splash pads and wading pools, and all swimming pools;
Beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks;
Camping at private campgrounds;
Outdoor-only recreational facilities and training for outdoor team sports, with limits to enable physical distancing;
Drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural appreciation, such as art installations;
Film and television production activities, with limits to enable physical distancing; and
Weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people
...due to COVID-19's unprecedented impact on the justice system, the province is extending the suspension of limitation periods and time periods in proceedings until September 11, 2020 under s.7.1 of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act .
This will ensure people will not experience legal consequences if the original time requirements of their case are not met while this order is in effect.
As soon as 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2020:
Golf courses will be able to open, with clubhouses open only for washrooms and restaurants open only for take-out.
Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches may open for recreational use.
Private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract.
Businesses that board animals, such as stables, may allow boarders to visit, care for or ride their animal.
Assuming trends in key public health indicators continue to improve, Ontario's first stage of reopening will begin on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and will include:
Retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate street-front entrances with measures in place that can enable physical distancing, such as limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time and booking appointments beforehand
or on the spot.
Seasonal businesses and recreational activities for individual or single competitors, including training and sport competitions conducted by a recognized national or provincial sport organization. This includes indoor and outdoor non-team sport
competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators, such as tennis, track and field and horse racing.
Animal services, specifically pet care services, such as grooming and training, and regular veterinary appointments.
Indoor and outdoor household services that can follow public health guidelines, such as housekeepers, cooks, cleaning and maintenance.
Lifting essential workplace limits on construction.
Allowing certain health and medical services to resume, such as in-person counselling; in-person services, in addition to virtual services, delivered by health professionals; and scheduled surgeries, all based on the ability to meet pre-specified
conditions as outlined in A Measured Approach to Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
By following the proper health and safety guidelines these businesses will be permitted to begin operations on Monday, May 4 at 12:01 a.m.:
Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
Lawn care and landscaping;
Additional essential construction projects that include:
shipping and logistics;
broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
municipal projects;
colleges and universities;
child care centres;
schools; and
site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
Automatic and self-serve car washes;
Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; and
Marinas may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock in the marina until public
access is allowed.
