MORE REGIONS BACK TO COLOUR FRAMEWORK SOME DEALERS TO MOVE AWAY FROM APPOINTMENT-ONLY SALES AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS
As we advised last week, Ontario is moving more regions back to the colour-coded framework. In light of this, we have seen a return to the health and safety measures in use before Christmas for many regions in Ontario.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open
As of Wednesday, February 10, 2021, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, and Renfrew County and District Health Unit returned to the “green” level.
As of today, Tuesday, February 16 at 12:01 a.m., the following regions move back to colour levels again:
GREY – LOCKDOWN
Niagara Region Public Health
- By appointment only between 7:00am and 8:00pm and no delivery before or after those hours
- 25% capacity limit
- A safety plan (see below) is required to be prepared and made available upon request
- Retailers must have passive screening for patrons (posted in door or window) and active screening for staff
- Individuals must physically distance and wear a face covering
- Test drives must be limited to no more than 10 minutes with a maximum of two people in the vehicle; if two people not in the same household are present in the vehicle during the test drive, all windows must be open
RED – CONTROL
Chatham-Kent Public Health;
City of Hamilton Public Health Services;
Durham Region Health Department;
Halton Region Public Health;
Middlesex-London Health Unit;
Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services;
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit;
Southwestern Public Health;
Thunder Bay District Health Unit;
Wellington-Dufferin Guelph Public Health; and
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
- Open for business but at 50 per cent capacity
- A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
- Retailers must post capacity limits publicly
- Retailers must have passive screening for patrons and active screening for staff
- Line-ups and patrons congregating outside must be managed by venue; 2 metres distance inside and outside; face coverings are required in line
ORANGE – RESTRICT
Brant County Health Unit;
Eastern Ontario Health Unit;
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit;
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit;
Huron Perth Public Health;
Lambton Public Health;
Ottawa Public Health;
Porcupine Health Unit; and
Public Health Sudbury and Districts.
- Open for business no capacity restrictions
- Retailers must have passive screening for patrons and active screening for staff
- A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
- Line-ups and patrons congregating outside must be managed by venue; 2 metres distance inside and outside; face coverings are required in line
YELLOW – PROTECT
Algoma Public Health;
Grey Bruce Health Unit;
Northwestern Health Unit; and
Peterborough Public Health
- Open for business no capacity restrictions
- Retailers must have passive screening for patrons and active screening for staff
- A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
- Line-ups and patrons congregating outside must be managed by venue; 2 metres distance inside and outside; face coverings are required in line
GREEN – PREVENT
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit; and
Timiskaming Health Unit.
As mentioned, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, and Renfrew County and District Health Unit remain in the Green Zone.
- Open for business no capacity restrictions
- Retailers must have passive screening for patrons and active screening for staff
- A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request
- Line-ups and patrons congregating outside must be managed by venue; 2 metres distance inside and outside; face coverings are required in line
STAY AT HOME – SHUTDOWN
The four remaining public health regions,
Toronto Public Health,
Peel Public Health,
York Region Public Health and;
North Bay Parry Sound District,
remain in shutdown, and the Stay-at-Home order and all existing public health and workplace safety measures will continue to apply to these four public health regions. This order will remain in place until at least February 22.
GOING FORWARD
After returning to the Framework, public health regions will stay in their level for at least two weeks at which time, the government will assess the impact of public health and workplace safety measures to determine if the regions should stay where they are or move to a different level. Public health regions will move up through the levels, if necessary, based on the set indicators and thresholds outlined in the Framework.
While the province-wide Stay-at-Home order will cease to apply in some regions, everyone is strongly advised to continue to stay at home, avoid social gatherings, minimize travel between areas with different rules, and limit close contacts to their household.
Employers in all industries should continue to make every effort to allow employees to work from home.
In all cases, dealers should operate the business or organization in compliance with any advice, recommendations and instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health or another public health official on screening individuals by, among other things,
- posting (“passive”) signs at all entrances to the premises of the business or organization, in a conspicuous location visible to the public, that inform individuals on how to screen themselves for COVID-19 prior to entering the premises; and
- actively screening every person who works at the business or organization before they enter the premises of the business or organization.
For further information, please contact your Regional Health authority.
As a guide for Members we have also included, with this Dealer Alert, a suggested sign to post for your door or windows that should be visible to the public. For Safety Plans required by the Province, please visit this link:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/develop-your-covid-19-workplace-safety-plan