Today, eight public health regions will move to new levels in the Province’s COVID-19 Response Framework, including North Bay Parry Sound District which moves to the Yellow-Protect zone. Simcoe Muskoka, which has a high number of cases that have screened positive for variants of concern (VOC), will remain in the Red-Control zone.
“With the significant and increasing risk of COVID-19 variants, the next few weeks will be critical in our fight against COVID-19,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health in a media release. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our frontline health care workers we continue to accelerate our vaccine rollout, but until all Ontarians can receive the vaccine we must not let our guard down and continue following public health advice. This remains our best defense.”
The Province has also adjusted dining capacity limits at restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, for Grey-Lockdown, Red-Control, and Orange-Restrict zones, effective Saturday, March 20.
For regions in Orange-Restrict and Red-Control, capacity limits for indoor dining will allow for up to 50 per cent of the indoor dining area to be accessible to the public, subject to physical distancing rules. Total occupancy cannot exceed 50 patrons in Red-Control and 100 patrons in Orange-Restrict.
Indoor dining is now limited to members of the same household at the same table, with exemptions for patrons who live alone and caregivers.
Indoor dining continues to be prohibited for areas in the Grey-Lockdown level, but outdoor dining would be permitted subject to physical distancing rules and other public health and workplace safety measures.
View the regulations for full details.
“While some regions are proceeding to levels with less restrictive measures and adjustments are being made to dining capacity, everyone must continue to adhere to all public health and workplace safety measures,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “We have entered the third wave of the pandemic and the rates of variants of concern continue to rise so it is important that people remain cautious and vigilant in order to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 and protect themselves and their communities.”
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Is there any truth that workers are being transported daily from southern Simcoe Muskoka health region to Muskoka as their is no workers available in Muskoka. Lots of signs seeking workers around Huntsville