The region that falls under the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will move back to the red-control zone of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework on Monday — just one week after a third lockdown took effect in the area.
The third lockdown for Simcoe Muskoka was announced just last week to begin this past Monday on March 1.
It sparked significant backlash among business owners in the region, who argued some businesses should be able to reopen safely.
“As we continue vaccinating more Ontarians, it remains critical for everyone to continue to follow public health measures and stay home as much as possible to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities,” Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement Friday.
On Friday, Simcoe County Warden George Cornell called the region’s move back to Ontario’s red-control zone “welcome news.”
“This change in status recognizes the strong message that came from our business community, many residents and our municipalities that requested a balanced approached to support businesses and industry, while still safeguarding public health,” he said.
This past week, local business owners and politicians criticized the decision to transition Simcoe County and Muskoka back into lockdown.
Last Sunday, Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman wrote a letter demanding Ontario “immediately” revise the business restrictions under the province’s grey-lockdown category of its COVID-19 response framework, saying some businesses could open safely.
On Monday, Collingwood Mayor Brian Saunderson called the third lockdown “unfair” to local businesses, citing the fact that Blue Mountain businesses are permitted to operate five minutes away from Collingwood under a “relaxed” green zone designation.
In response to criticism of the lockdown, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit said it was intended to act as a “short-term emergency brake” to prevent a possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are seeing increases of cases and outbreaks of the U.K. B.1.1.7 variant in Simcoe and Muskoka in workplaces, long-term care facilities, a childcare centre and an apartment building,” Dr. Charles Gardner, the Simcoe Muskoka health unit’s medical officer of health, said in a statement this past Sunday.
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“Countries that have experienced high numbers of variants of concern have then experienced a third wave of COVID-19, and we need to act early to prevent that from happening here.”
The region of Simcoe Muskoka has the highest number of COVID-19 variant cases in Ontario. Locally, there are 217 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first discovered in the U.K. and is believed to be up to 70 per cent more contagious than earlier coronavirus strains, while an additional 401 people have screened positive for a “variant of concern.”
The health unit reported 132 new COVID-19 cases this week, compared to 256 last week and 277 the week of Feb. 14.
On Friday, the Ontario government said modelling data shows the number of new COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations have decreased across the province.
Despite improving numbers, the province said people’s actions in the coming weeks will be critical in stopping the spread of emerging COVID-19 variants that are more contagious than earlier strains of the virus.
“While all regions have returned to the framework, everyone must remain vigilant to help prevent any further increases in transmission,” Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, said in a statement Friday.
“The best defense against the virus and all of its variants of concern remains continuing to stay at home, avoiding social gatherings, only travelling outside of your community for essential purposes, and limiting close contacts to your household or those you live with.”
Here’s what you can and can’t do under Ontario’s red – control level of restrictions:
Cannabis stores
Cannabis stores can be open.
Casinos, bingo halls, gaming
Casinos, bingo halls and gaming facilities can operate with caps of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors so long as physical distancing can be maintained.
Table games are banned.
Liquor can only be sold and served between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and consumption of alcohol is banned between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m.
Face coverings must be worn except when eating and drinking.
Facilities will be required to record contact information.
Cinemas, movie theatres, performing arts facilities
These facilities are closed, except for drive-in cinemas. Rehearsals or performances being broadcast are allowed without spectators, and performers and employees must be two metres apart. Singers and musicians playing brass and wind instruments must be separated by impermeable barriers.
Meeting and event spaces
Venues can operate with caps of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors as long as physical distancing can be maintained.
The facilities must be closed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Liquor can only be sold and served between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
A maximum of four people can be seated together.
Face coverings must be worn except when eating and drinking.
Music must be kept to as close to a normal conversation level as possible.
Contact information must be collected and screening is required.
Personal care services
Oxygen bars, steam rooms, saunas, bathhouses and other “adult venues” must be closed. Sensory deprivation pods also are largely banned with limited exceptions.
If a service requires the removal of face coverings, it won’t be allowed.
Restaurants, bars, cafes
Establishments can operate with a cap of 10 people indoors so long as physical distancing can be maintained and screening of customers is conducted. Outdoor dining, takeout, delivery and drive-through businesses can operate.
Buffet-style restaurants aren’t allowed to open.
For people who want to line up outside to get inside, they must wear face coverings and stay two metres apart.
The facilities must be closed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Liquor can only be sold and served between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
A maximum of four people can be seated together.
Face coverings must be worn except when eating and drinking. Employees must wear personal protective equipment and eye protection if they’re coming within two metres of customers who don’t have face coverings.
Music must be kept to as close to a normal conversation level as possible. Dancing, singing and live music is banned.
Night clubs and strip clubs can only operate as restaurants and bars.
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Schools and post-secondary institutions
Schools and daycare facilities will be allowed to remain open in accordance with previous reopening plans and adherence to evolving public health guidelines.
Post-secondary institutions can stay open for in-person instruction only for programs that require it (for example clinical medical training, trades etc.). Virtual learning will be required for all other situations.
Shopping and retail
In-person shopping can occur, but supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and other stores primarily selling groceries must cap the number of customers to 75 per cent of the approved capacity. For all other retail and big-box stores, there is a cap of 50 per cent capacity.
Safety plans, screening information and capacity limits need to be posted in a visible location.
Fitting rooms will need to be reduced so people are not changing in adjacent stalls.
For malls with indoor food courts, there will be a cap of 10 customers.
Music must be reduced to a normal conversation level “if possible.”
Customers will need to maintain a two-metre distance and wear face coverings in accordance with the existing regulations.
For people who want to line up outside to get inside, they must wear face coverings and stay two metres apart.
Curbside pickup and delivery will continue to be allowed.
Social gatherings, religious services, weddings, funerals
Organized public events and social gatherings are capped at five people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
For religious services, ceremonies and weddings, there will be an indoor cap of 30 per cent of the approved capacity and 100 people outdoors. Physical distancing must be adhered to.
Sports and recreation fitness
Two metres of physical distance must be kept at all times. The spacing must be increased to three metres in weight training and exercise equipment areas as well as during exercise and fitness classes.
Factoring in physical distancing, there is a cap of 10 people in indoor areas with weight and exercise equipment and during indoor classes. For outside classes, there’s a cap of 25 people. No spectators are allowed except for parents or guardians of participants under the age of 18.
Team sports, games and scrimmage are banned except for training.
All activities where people might come within two metres are banned and no contact is allowed during team or individual sports. However, there are exemptions for high-performance athletes and for parasports.
For people visiting facilities, their visits must be capped at 90 minutes and face coverings must be worn except while exercising. Music must be lowered to regular conversation levels to prevent shouting.
Contact information must be gathered and reservations will be required. Screening of participants will need to be done and associated safety plans must be posted in a visible location.
— With files from Global News’ Nick Westoll
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