COVID-19: Information for Being in Public Places

Download this information as a PDF (also available in Amharic | Arabic | Bengali | Dari | Farsi | French | Gujarati | Pashto | Portuguese | Punjabi | Simplified Chinese | Somali | Spanish | Tamil | Urdu | Vietnamese).

Toronto Public Health has created guidance documents for commercial and residential buildings. The City of Toronto has created signage that building operators can print off and display in common areas.

Parks

• Stay home if you are sick
• Outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people, with limited exceptions. Keep a distance of at least two metres from people you don’t live with.
• Wear a cloth mask or face covering when it is difficult to maintain physical distance
• Avoid crowded places, and try to visit when the park is less busy
• Step aside or pass others quickly and courteously on walking paths and trails
• Wash or sanitize your hands often and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• Bring and take home your own sports equipment and toys
• Clean toys with soap and water thoroughly when you return home

Learn what park amenities are open and closed.

Sports & Recreational Fitness Activities

Indoor gyms and recreational programs may open with reduced capacity. Follow these tips when participating in activities:

• Stay home if you are sick
• Keep a distance of at least two metres from people you don’t live with
• Wear a cloth mask or face covering indoors and outdoors when it is difficult to maintain physical distance, except when engaging in sport or physical fitness activities

Dog Parks

Outdoor play for dogs and their owners is encouraged to stay active and healthy. Keep everyone safe, including your dog, by keeping your dog on a leash when outdoors, and by following these tips when visiting an off-leash dog area:

• Stay home if you or your dog are sick
• Keep two metres distance from other owners and dogs
• Avoid the area if crowded and come back at another time
• Wear a cloth mask or face covering if it is difficult to maintain distance
• Wash or sanitize your hands after touching surfaces (e.g. gates)
• Clean any dog toys thoroughly with soap and water when you return home

Find a dog off-leash area.

Also read Toronto Public Health’s guidance for using outdoor recreational amenities.

Playgrounds

• Follow caregiver guidelines provided by Toronto Public Health, as indicated on the posted signage
• Teach your children proper handwashing, to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and to cover their cough
• Wash or sanitize your hands often and before and after using the playground
• Monitor yourself and your child for symptoms of COVID-19
• Stay home if you or your child is sick
• Bring your own hand sanitizer, wipes, water, sunscreen and personal items
• Keep a distance of two metres from others
• Wear a mask or face covering when it is difficult to maintain physical distancing; do not apply a mask on children under the age of two
• If a playground is busy, find another park or come back later.

Toronto Public Health has created a guidance document for owners and operators of outdoor playgrounds and fitness equipment to help children play safely at reopened playgrounds.

Read Toronto Public Health’s information for parents and caregivers of children in child care.

Community Centres

When visiting a community centre, please remember to:

• Stay home if you are sick
• Keep at least two metres apart from people you don’t live with
• Wear a cloth mask or face covering when indoors and when it is difficult to maintain physical distance
• Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

Farmers Markets

• Stay home if you are sick
• If the market is busy or crowded, try coming back at another time
• Look for designated entry and exit points
• Wear a mask or face covering and keep a physical distance of two metres from others shopping
• Check if your market has an online shop or other delivery options. Order in advance for pick up, when possible
• Come with a plan and make purchases as quickly as possible to reduce the wait time for others
• Use electronic payment options, when possible
• Take your fresh food home to enjoy
• Wash fresh produce with cold running water before eating
• Frequently wash or sanitize your hands and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

Learn about guidelines for fresh food and farmers market operators.

Download the Safely Supporting Your Neighbourhood Farmers Market infographic.

Indoor and outdoor dining is permitted with physical distancing and other public health measures in place. Follow these tips when dining out:

• Stay home if you are sick
• Make a reservation if possible
• If the restaurant is busy, try coming back another time or find another place
• Wear a mask or fact covering except when you are eating
• Wash or sanitize your hands before eating and after leaving
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

Also read Toronto Public Health’s guidance for food safety and grocery shopping.

• Consider attending services virtually or outdoors, if possible
• Stay home if you are sick
• Greet others with a smile, bow or wave
• Bring your own materials (e.g. prayer book, rug)
• Wear a cloth mask or face covering indoors and outdoors when it is difficult to maintain physical distancing
• Stay two metres apart from people you don’t live with
• Do not sing or chant, even with your mask on, as germs can spread more easily
• Keep your children with you and do not gather in groups
• Rituals like communion are not recommended
• Frequently wash or sanitize your hands and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

Learn about guidelines for faith-based organizations and weddings and funerals.

Download the Safely Attending Faith-Based Services infographic (also available in Amharic |  Arabic | Dari | Farsi | French | Gujarati |  Pashto | Portuguese | Punjabi | Simplified Chinese | Somali | Spanish | Tamil | Urdu | Vietnamese).

Indoor social gatherings are permitted with up to 25 people and outdoor social gatherings are permitted with up to 100 people, with limited exceptions.  Follow these tips when hosting or attending a social gathering:

• Stay home if you are unwell and ask guests to stay home if they have any COVID-19 symptoms
• Keep a distance of at least two metres from people you don’t live with
• Wear a mask if you can’t keep a distance of at least two metres and if you spend time indoors
• Serve pre-portioned items, use utensils and avoid sharing food

The mandatory mask or face covering bylaw for indoor public spaces remain in effect.

Read Toronto Public Health’s guidance for indoor and outdoor events and gatherings.

Bus, Streetcar & Subway

• Do not use public transit if you are sick or self-isolating
• Wear a cloth mask or face covering (masks are now mandatory on the TTC and GO Transit)
• Avoid travelling during peak hours if possible
• Use your elbow/arm to push buttons/open doors
• Keep a distance of two metres from others if possible
• Throw your garbage in a bin
• Wash or sanitize your hands often and avoid touching your face
• Avoid lineups at PRESTO refill stations by loading money onto your PRESTO card online or using their app

Learn more about mandatory masks and face coverings, changes to boarding, payments, and cleaning practices on the TTC and GO Transit websites.

Download the Using Public Transit during COVID-19 infographic (also available in Amharic | Arabic | Bengali | Dari | Farsi | French | Gujarati | Pashto | Portuguese | Punjabi | Simplified Chinese | Somali | Spanish | Tamil | Urdu | Vietnamese).

Driving, Walking & Cycling

Learn about ActiveTO which provides quiet streets, closing of major roads for active transportation, and expanding the cycling network to help people get around while practising physical distancing.

Taxis & Ride Shares

• Sit in the back and keep the windows open
• Wear a cloth mask or face covering
• Wash or sanitize your hands when you reach your destination

Learn about guidelines for taxi and ride share operators.

Toronto Island Ferry

• Stay home if you are sick
• You must purchase tickets in advance and tickets are only valid for the date selected
• Washrooms at the terminal and at Toronto Island Park are open. Learn how to safely use public washrooms
• Passengers are required to wear masks or face coverings
• Keep two metres apart from others
• Frequently wash your hands and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

Visit All Ferry Schedules for seasonal departure times. Some facilities may be closed.

During the COVID-19 pandemic there is a greater need for goods and services. One way to support individuals, families and the community is to donate money, or new and gently-used items to a charitable organization. Donations by credit card, gift card, cheque, or e-transfer allow organizations to purchase the goods they need, often at better prices. This way of giving is also safer for the donor, staff and volunteers.

Donating goods

• Do not donate items if you or someone in your household is unwell.
• Call or visit the organization’s website to find out what items they need or will accept.
• Follow directions from the organization on how and where to make the donation.
• If delivering the donation in-person, stay at least two metres from others and wear a mask.
• Wash your hands before and after handling donated items.

Donating clothes, electronics and other household items

• Items which are new or gently used are generally preferred.
• Check the donation items to make sure they are in good condition.
  • Clothing should be clean, without stains or rips, and all buttons and zippers should be working.
  • Electronic goods should be in working order.
  • Dishware should not have chips or cracks.
• Personal care items such as soap, toothpaste and feminine hygiene products should be unused and in original/sealed packaging.

Donating toys

• Toy drives typically ask for new toys in their original packaging (for infection prevention and control purposes).
• Package new stuffed toys in a clean, clear plastic bag for easy handling.
• Consider donating items for newborn babies.
• Tween and teen items are also needed. Consider gift cards, books, board games, arts and craft kits, sporting goods, digital music players, electronics, backpacks, school supplies, makeup kits, hair dryer, curling irons, jewellery, hat, gloves and scarves.

Donating food items

• Donate items that reduce the risk of food-borne illness, such as:
  • Non-perishable food items, as they can be kept for a long period of time.
  • Pre-packaged food such as cereal, rice or pasta, and canned goods.
• Food products must be in their original/sealed packaging and in good condition. They should not be past the best-before or expiry date.
• Homemade food items should not be permitted.

Organizing a donation drive

• Clearly communicate the goal of your donation drive, including who the donations are for, the type of items you are looking for, and how they should be packaged for delivery or pick-up.
• Donation drives and events must comply with current provincial gathering limits.

Staff/volunteer safety

The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is greater for certain groups of the population, including people who are: older adults; living with an underlying medical condition or a weakened immune system (e.g. due to a medical condition or treatment); living on a low income; under-housed or experiencing homelessness; or living in congregate settings such as retirement homes or rooming houses.

Organizations should consider the vulnerability of employees, volunteers, and clients when planning their donation drives.

• Masks must be worn in indoor public places, and outdoors when physical distancing is difficult. Consider face shields or goggles if staff will be within two metres of others.
• Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer (70-90% alcohol concentration) before and after handling donations.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces, including surfaces which donated food had contact with (e.g., tables, shelving, bins).
• If playing recorded music, keep the volume low to avoid having people talk louder.
• Eating and drinking indoors is not permitted.
• Designate a specific space for food and drink breaks for staff and volunteers. When masks are temporarily removed to consume food or drink, individuals must be separated from every other person by a distance of at least two metres or an impermeable barrier.

Donation drop-off, pick-up or deliveries

• Create a safe location outside for people to drop off donations. Do not use large, enclosed donation bins as there is a risk of people falling in.
• Use contactless drop-off / delivery / pick-up methods, if possible.
• If donations are picked up or delivered, only staff from the same household should ride in the same vehicle.
• Contact clients in advance to schedule a delivery / pick-up time, when possible.
• Prepare smaller bags or box donations for easier carrying and delivery.
• Avoid entering people’s homes. Deliver and / or ask donors to leave the package at front door.
• Wash your hands before and after handling donations.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect all touched surfaces.

Organizers should review the COVID-19 Guidance for Food Banks & Donation Centres for more information, and use this checklist to support planning the drive.

Customers purchasing or receiving donated goods

• Wash your hands before and after handling items.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces which had contact with the donated items (e.g. countertops) after putting away items.
• Wash vegetables and fruit under cold running water before cooking and/or eating them.
• Wash ceramic, glass and other household items with soap and warm water.
• Launder clothing/sheets/towels and other fabrics on high heat settings (wash and dry), if possible.
• Wash reusable shopping bags.
• Set aside items that cannot be cleaned or disinfected (e.g., for 24 to 72 hours).

There is little risk of getting COVID-19 from food or food packaging. In general, you can lower your risk of infection by following safe food handling practices.

More information can be found in the COVID-19 Guidance When Shopping for Essentials.

Resource:

• Safer Secondhand Shopping During COVID-19 infographic

The following checklist will help you understand the current rules and regulations for using outdoor recreational amenities (e.g. parks, tennis courts, golf courses, sports fields) and what steps should be taken to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Some of the locations where these activities take place are not managed by an organization or operator. Members of the public are responsible for following provincial and local regulations and recommendations.

Preparing for the activity

• Get two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine if you are over 12 years old and not fully vaccinated.
• Download the COVID Alert app so you can be notified directly if you have been in close contact with someone who was contagious with COVID-19.
• Book a reservation in advance, if required.
• Complete a self-screening assessment before leaving home. If you answer YES to any of the questions, do not participate in the activity. Stay home, self-isolate and call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000, your health care provider or an Assessment Centreto get tested.
• Dress/put on equipment at home as much as possible to limit time spent in indoor facilities.
• Bring your own equipment. Pack only essentials (e.g. water bottle, towel, equipment) and limit personal items as much as possible.
• Wear your mask or face covering to the activity.

During the activity

• Do not use any portion of a recreational area or amenity that is required to be closed.
• If the facility / area looks crowded or has reached its capacity limit, come back another time.
• Know and adhere to all facility policies and procedures.
• Provide your name and contact information if asked by facility staff to be used for public health contact tracing purposes, if required.
• Respect current provincial gathering limits, which allow up to 100 people
• Clean hands often with soap and water or 70-90% alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Wear a mask or face covering at all times when indoors, and outdoors when physical distancing is difficult.
  • Follow directions from the facility if masks are required during the activity.
• Follow directions from the facility for where to keep personal items. Place items at least two metres away from others.
• Remain at least two metres from people you don’t live with, including while waiting in lines, using amenities (e.g. washroom), etc.
• Limit or modify team sports or games that may result in personal contact.
• Avoid activities where you cannot maintain physical distancing from those you don’t live with.
• Avoid sharing equipment. If you must, clean and disinfect items between each use.
• Do not share personal items (e.g. water bottle, clothes, equipment).
• Food service premises on site are open with restrictions.

After the activity

• If your mask or face covering was removed, put it on as soon as possible after the activity.
• Clean your hands with soap and water or 70-90% alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect any equipment that was used (e.g. racket, club, ball).
• Launder clothes including towels and masks in the warmest possible setting and dry completely.

Download this information as a PDF.

Hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, tattoo parlours and other aesthetic services may reopen with public health measures in place. Follow these tips when visiting a personal service setting:

• Stay home if you are feeling unwell
• Make an appointment
• Wait outside until you are called in
• Wear a mask or face covering
• Keep a distance of at least two metres from others as much as possible
• Wash or sanitize your hands often and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

Learn about guidelines for personal service setting operators.

Retail stores and shopping malls are permitted to open with capacity limits and other public health measures in place.

Follow these tips when shopping:

• Stay home if you are sick
• Wear a mask or face covering indoors and outdoors when it is difficult to maintain physical distancing
• Keep a distance of two metres  from people you don’t live with
• Wash or sanitize your hands often and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• Keep your trip short and don’t meet up with others. Do not loiter in malls.
• If it looks crowded, come back later
• Limit what you touch
• Consider online ordering, delivery, and curbside pickup

Learn about guidelines for operators.

Resource:

Download the Shopping Safely during COVID-19 infographic (also available in Amharic | Arabic | Simplified Chinese | Dari | Farsi | French | Gujarati | Hungarian | Pashto | Portuguese | Punjabi | Spanish | Tamil | Urdu | Vietnamese).

Read Toronto Public Health’s school information for parents and caregivers, including tips on how to prepare for school during COVID-19 and what parents need to know if there is a case of COVID-19 at school.

City Long-term Care homes follow Ministry visiting guidelines. Learn more about changes for senior services and long-term care homes.

• Wear a mask or face covering if it is difficult to maintain physical distance and in indoor public spaces
• Only share a washroom stall with people from your household
• Stagger your entrance into and exit from public washrooms in an effort to maintain physical distance
• If the washroom is busy, go to another washroom or return at a different time
• Where possible, utilize electronic push buttons or sensors to open doors, turn on sinks, flush toilets
• Wash or sanitize your hands when entering and prior to exiting a public washroom
• Avoid touching frequently touched hard surfaces
• If possible, use every other stall and sink
  • To meet physical distancing guidelines, some sinks and urinals may be closed off
• Public washrooms may have reduced hours of operation to allow for enhanced cleaning

Residents and visitors can access spring and summer washrooms in parks.

In addition, the City has opened a number of facilities with showers and water for individuals in need of these services.

Download the Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Public Washrooms poster (also available in tabloid size).

• Follow Toronto Public Health’s guidance for weddings and funerals
• Consider postponing larger weddings to a later date, plan a virtual ceremony and/or outdoor celebration.
• Consider a virtual funeral service for friends and family

Read Toronto Public Health’s guidance for indoor and outdoor events and gatherings and guidance for places of worship.