Ontario Declares Second Provincial Emergency Effective January 14, 2021

From the City of Richmond Hill Economic Development Newsletter:

The Government of Ontario has declared a second provincial emergency (Click Here). Effective Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., the government is issuing a stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for permitted purposes or activities, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for work where the work cannot be done remotely.

In addition to limiting outings, all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home.

The following additional public health restrictions take effect immediately.

  • Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people with limited exceptions.
  • Individuals are required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance more than two metres.
  • All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
  • Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.

If you’re a business owner and have questions about closures and essential workplaces, call Ontario’s Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.

Register