Press Release
RCDHU
The Ontario Government declared a provincial emergency and announced the implementation of a 4-week, provincewide stay-at-home order, effective Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. This is in addition to the provincewide shutdown implemented on April 3, 2021.
“This is necessary to do what we can to limit the spread of COVID-19, especially as variants-of-concern continue to spread with increased contagion and potential for more serious health risks leading to hospitalization,” states Dr. Robert Cushman, Acting Medical Officer of Health.
“If we do our part now to stay home except for essentials and continue to get needles in arms, we will get through this sooner than later,” continues Dr. Cushman.
The new stay-at-home order measures include, but are not limited to:
Limiting the majority of non-essential retailers to only operate for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., with delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm, and other restrictions;
Restricting access to shopping malls to limited specified purposes, including access for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, with one single designated location inside the shopping mall, and any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall, along with other restrictions such as physical distancing and mask/face covering requirements;
Restricting discount and big box stores in-person retail sales to grocery items, pet care supplies, household cleaning supplies, pharmaceutical items, health care items, and personal care items only;
Permitting the following stores to operate for in-person retail by appointment only and subject to a 25 per cent capacity limit and restricting allowable hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. with the delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.:
Safety supply stores; Businesses that primarily sell, rent or repair assistive devices, aids or supplies, mobility devices, aids or supplies or medical devices, aids or supplies; Rental and leasing services including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental; Optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public; Businesses that sell motor vehicles, boats and other watercraft; Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services; and Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service, which may only permit members of the public to enter the premises to purchase a cellphone or for repairs or technical support.
Permitting outdoor garden centres and plant nurseries, and indoor greenhouses that engage in sales to the public, to operate with a 25 per cent capacity limit and a restriction on hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Schools and child care will remain open for in-person care and learning in public health regions where it is permitted, with strict safety measures in place.
Full details can be found at: Ontario Enacts Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order.
In addition to these new public health measures, it is imperative that everyone do their part to stay home if they are sick, avoid contact with people who are ill, practice physical distancing (2 metres), wear a mask/face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, wash their hands, use the COVID Alert App, and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment tool or COVID-19 school and childcare screening tool daily if they go to work, school or daycare, to monitor for symptoms and proper guidance.
For more information, visit RCDHU’s website at https://www.rcdhu.com/novel-coronavirus- covid-19-2/ or call 613-732-3629 or 1-800-267-1097.
