The Province of Ontario, in consultation with Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, is considering moving Toronto from the Shutdown Zone of the provincial Lockdown Regulation and subject to a Stay-at-Home Order into the Grey Zone under the provincial COVID-19 response framework at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2021. Under the Grey Zone, a number of COVID-19 restrictions would be different. For details about what is and is not permitted, please refer to the Province’s Lockdown Regulation.
This backgrounder is not legal advice but provides some information on what you should do and not do in accordance with regulations and public health advice. To ensure legal compliance with all applicable provincial regulations, individuals and businesses should consult the Reopening Ontario Act and/or obtain legal advice.
Shutdown Zone In place until at least March 8 |
Grey Zone Under consideration as of March 8 |
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Indoor gatherings |
You must stay at home. You can only go out for necessities (Stay-at-Home Order). No indoor organized public events and social gatherings, except with members of the same household and one person who lives alone. If you live alone, you can have close contact with only one other household. You should not travel outside your region or the province unless absolutely necessary. |
You should stay home as much as possible. No indoor organized public events and social gatherings, except with members of the same household and one person who lives alone. If you live alone, you can have close contact with only one other household. You should not travel outside your region or the province unless absolutely necessary. |
Outdoor gatherings | Five-person limit for outdoor organized public events and social gatherings where physical distancing can be maintained. | 10-person limit for outdoor organized public events and social gatherings where physical distancing can be maintained. |
Religious services |
10-person limits for indoor or outdoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding and funeral services, where physical distancing can be maintained (applies in any venue other than a private dwelling). Indoor social gatherings associated with or following any wedding, funeral, or religious service, rite, or ceremony are not permitted. Outdoor social gatherings where physical distancing can be maintained are limited to five people or less. Virtual and drive-in events and religious services, rites or ceremonies permitted. |
10-person limits for indoor or outdoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding and funeral services, where physical distancing can be maintained (applies in any venue other than a private dwelling). Indoor social gatherings associated with or following any wedding, funeral, or religious service, rite, or ceremony are not permitted. Outdoor social gatherings where physical distancing can be maintained are limited to 10 people or less. Virtual and drive-in events and religious services, rites or ceremonies permitted. |
Retail | In-store shopping with reduced capacity limit is allowed for:
In-store shopping by appointment only is allowed for:
Stores can only be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with exceptions for:
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In store shopping permitted for all retail, subject to capacity limits that must be publicly posted of:
Stores must have signs posted requiring patrons to self screen. If you do not pass the self screen, you should not enter. Shopping malls can open with restrictions:
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Restaurants |
Indoor and outdoor dining service prohibited. Take out, drive through and delivery permitted, including alcohol. |
Indoor and outdoor dining service prohibited. Take out, drive through and delivery permitted, including alcohol. |
Personal care services |
Personal care services such as hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, tanning studios, tattoo parlours and other cosmetic services are not permitted to operate. health care appointments with regulated health professionals for services like physiotherapy and massage therapy are permitted. |
Personal care services such as hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, tanning studios, tattoo parlours and other cosmetic services are not permitted to operate. health care appointments with regulated health professionals for services like physiotherapy and massage therapy are permitted. |
Recreation |
Some amenities permitted to open subject to conditions (i.e. tobogganing hills, outdoor skating rinks for limited uses, etc.). Team sports are not permitted (i.e. shinny). Sports and recreational fitness facilities closed, with limited exceptions (i.e. use by professional and high-performing athletes, access to physical therapy for individuals with a disability as defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). |
More amenities can open, subject to conditions (i.e. golf courses). Day camps can resume. Team sports are not permitted, with limited exceptions. Sports and recreational fitness facilities closed, with limited exceptions (i.e. use by professional and high-performing athletes, access to physical therapy for individuals with a disability as defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). |
Libraries | Libraries are closed, except for pick up. | Libraries are open but use is limited to computers and contactless pick-up. Books and other circulating materials must be reserved over the phone or online for pick up. |
Animal services | Vet services necessary for immediate health and wellness, training of service animals and limited grooming for immediate health and wellness are permitted. |
Vet services are permitted. Pet services such as pet sitting services, pet walking services, pet grooming and pet training services are permitted. |
Household services | Domestic services that support children, seniors or vulnerable persons, including housekeeping, cooking, indoor and outdoor cleaning and maintenance services are permitted. | Domestic and cleaning and maintenance services are permitted. |
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