Last updated: January 15, 2021 at 11:55 a.m.
A province-wide declaration of emergency and stay-at-home order are in effect.
The information on this page provides you with what you need to know to re-open your restaurant, or other food premises, after being closed.
On January 4, 2021, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health issued a Letter of Instruction to all employers in the City of Toronto permitted to be open under the Reopening Ontario Act. Employers permitted to be open are required to take the additional measures set out in this Letter to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Also read Toronto Public Health’s guidance for entertainment venues.
The following recommendations are intended to help organizers, staff and vendors participating in farmers’, fresh food and holiday markets reduce the spread of COVID-19. These markets primarily sell local goods, fresh fruits, vegetables and foods that do not require onsite food preparation.
Owners, operators and vendors are responsible for ensuring that their market is in compliance with these public health guidelines, all emergency orders made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, and Ontario Regulation 493/17: Food Premises.
As every market will be different, it is the responsibility of owners/operators and vendors to review their own policies, procedures, and site-specific operations, while ensuring that the appropriate infection prevention and control measures are implemented and maintained. More information about COVID-19 can be found in the COVID-19 Fact Sheet.
Review COVID-19 Guidance for Retail Settings for more information.
Every business owner should develop and communicate policies concerning staff and customer health and safety. Review the Guidance for Employers on Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace to plan and implement protocols to keep staff and customers safe, including:
Operators must prepare and make available a safety plan, and the plan must:
Plan and modify the layout of the market to ensure enough space is provided for customers, vendors and market staff to maintain at least two metres/six feet physical distancing.
Download this information as a PDF.
Read Toronto Public Health’s Guidance for Food Banks and Donation Centres.
The following guidance is to support owners and operators of food stores, including grocery stores, supermarkets and pharmacies, to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Owners and operators are responsible for ensuring that their food store is in compliance with these public health guidelines, and all emergency orders made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. As every food store will be different, it is the responsibility of owners/operators to review their own policies, procedures, and site-specific operations, while ensuring that the appropriate infection prevention and control measures are implemented and maintained. Food premises must also comply at all times with Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17 made under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
More information about COVID-19 can be found in the Toronto Public Health (TPH) COVID-19 Fact Sheet.
Review the Guidance for Employers on Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace to plan and implement protocols to keep staff and customers safe, including:
Operators must prepare and make available a safety plan, and the plan must:
Download this information as a PDF.
Further guidance for food premises is available on the Ontario Ministry of Health’s website.
The following guidance should be used by owners and operators of mobile food premises, including food trucks, food carts and ice cream trucks, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure food safety.
Owners and operators are responsible for ensuring that their mobile food premises is in compliance with all orders made under the Reopening Ontario Act, in addition to Ontario Regulation 493.17 – Food Premises. As every mobile food premises is different, it is the responsibility of owners and operators to review their own policies, procedures, and site-specific operations, while ensuring that the appropriate infection prevention and control measures are implemented and maintained
Mobile food premises operating as part of an event should also refer to COVID-19 Guidance for Indoor & Outdoor Events and Gatherings.
Review the Guidance for Employers on Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace to plan and implement protocols to keep staff safe.
Business operators must prepare and make available a safety plan, and the plan must:
Download this information as a PDF.
This guide provides you with the information you need to re-open your restaurant, bar or other food service premises. Part 1 provides advice on preparing your restaurant, bar or food premises for food service before reopening, and Part 2 helps you to provide food service after reopening.
As of Monday November 23, 2020, Toronto is in the Grey Control Level of the provincial Reopening Ontario Act. At this time, only take out, drive through or delivery is permitted.
If you have a specific question about anything in this document, please call Toronto Public Health (TPH) at 416-338-7600, email DineSafe@toronto.ca or visit www.toronto.ca/COVID19.
There is no requirement for restaurants, bars or other food premises to be inspected by Toronto Public Health before reopening. However, if you are opening a new restaurant, bar or other food premises, you must contact Toronto Public Health before opening to arrange for an inspection. You also must comply at all times with Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17 made under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
COVID-19 is spread mainly from person-to-person through close contact from respiratory droplets of someone with COVID-19. The respiratory droplets can travel up to two metres/six feet when we cough, sneeze or talk.
It is possible for a person to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. The virus may survive on plastic and metal surfaces for several hours.
The following are recommended actions to be taken prior to opening your establishment for business:
The following are recommended actions to be taken after opening your establishment for business:
Visit our website at www.toronto.ca/COVID19, email DineSafe@toronto.ca, or call us at 416-338-7600.
Download this information as a PDF.
Student nutrition programs (SNPs) provide nutritious meals and snacks to students to give them the nutrients and energy they need to be ready to learn. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that SNPs continue to offer access to safe, adequate and nutritious food during the school day, as outlined in the Nutrition Guidelines for Student Nutrition Programs.
The following interim guidance is to support SNP volunteer coordinators, parents, community members and staff operate an SNP, and to reduce the spread of COVID-19. SNPs must operate in accordance with all emergency orders made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, in addition to Ontario Regulation 493/17 – Food Premises. As every SNP site will be different, it is the responsibility of SNP volunteer coordinators to review their own policies, procedures, and site-specific operations, while ensuring that the appropriate infection prevention and control measures are implemented and maintained.
More information about COVID-19 can be found in the Toronto Public Health (TPH) COVID-19 Fact Sheet.
*Note: SNPs should use the appropriate poster designated by the site where it operates.
Download this information as a PDF (also available in French).
Learn more about student nutrition programs (also available in French).