Please note – Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a stay-at-home order and enhancing public health restrictions. No indoor social gatherings are permitted, except with members of the same household (the people you live with).
Individuals who live alone and single parents may consider having exclusive, close contact with another household. Outdoor gatherings must be limited to 5 individuals, and proper social distancing must be maintained.
Find out about the declaration of emergency and the latest public health measures, advice and restrictions as we continue to respond to the challenge of COVID-19 at Ontario.ca
Social gathering limits
Limit close contact to only members of your household (the people you live with). If you live alone, you may consider having close contact with one other household only.
Up to 5 people may gather outdoors, as long as you can keep 2 metres physical distance from each other. You should also wear a mask or face covering.
You may attend a funeral, religious service or wedding of up to 10 people.
If you do not follow these rules for gatherings:
- organizers may be fined $10,000
- each attendee may receive a $750 ticket
- enforcement personnel may break up the gathering or temporarily close the premises
Wondering who at your gathering will count towards the limit?
All guests and any hired staff are included in the count of individuals gathering at private settings. HPEPH considers any individuals on site at a private event (including photographers, caterers, etc.) as contributing towards the gathering limit.
The gathering limit intends to reduce risk of transmission by ensuring only small groups of people are gathered together at one time.
Please continue to practise physical distancing.
Physical distancing includes, but is not limited to:
- Adhering to the provincial gathering limits.
- Talking to your supervisor, manager, or employer about the possibility of working from home where possible.
- Avoiding visits to long-term care homes, retirement homes, supportive housing, hospices and other congregate care settings unless the visit is absolutely essential.
- Limiting non-essential trips in the community.
- If you have to travel via taxi or ride-share, be sure to keep the windows down.
- Hosting virtual meetings and social interactions instead of in-person events.
Please take steps to limit your close contacts.
- Avoid crowded areas.
- Wear a mask and/or face covering in all public spaces or where physical distancing is not possible.
- Maintain a distance of two metres from those around you at all times.
- Do not touch your face.
- Wash your hands immediately and thoroughly upon return to your home or workplace.
Remember: While you may not feel sick, and these measures are an inconvenience, please be mindful of the members of our community who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others. We are all in this together.
Confused by the difference between self-quarantine, self-isolation and physical distancing? You’re not alone. These definitions have been evolving as we learn more about COVID-19 and enhance measures to fight its spread.
Adapted with permission from Ottawa Public Health.
Resources:
- Physical Distancing Poster – HPEPH
- Public Health Agency of Canada – Community-Based Measures to Mitigate the Spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Canada
- World Health Organization – Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19
- Why outbreaks like Coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to “flatten the curve” – Washington Post
