NEW (Jan 12, 2021)

Work from Home, Except Where Necessary

Each person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall ensure that any person who performs work for the business or organization conducts their work remotely, with limited exception, for instance, where the nature of their work requires them to be on-site at the workplace.

Public Health Advice, Recommendations and Instructions:

• Businesses or organizations must operate in compliance with the advice, recommendations, and instructions of public health officials, including any advice, recommendations or instructions
  on physical distancing, cleaning or disinfecting, and working remotely.
• Check with your local public health unit for any additional advice, recommendations or instructions.

Physical Distancing and Line Management:

• Businesses or places must not permit patrons to line up inside the businesses or place, or to line up or congregate outside of the business or place unless they are maintaining a physical distance of at least two metres from other groups of persons and wearing a mask or face covering that covers their mouth, nose and chin unless they are entitled to an exception set out in the regulation.

Screening:

• Businesses or organizations must operate in compliance with the advice, recommendations instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health on screening individuals.
  • This includes:
    • Workplaces must screen any workers or essential visitors entering the work environment.
    • See the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces for more information.

Personal Protective Equipment including Eye Protection:

• Personal protective equipment that provides protection of the eyes, nose, and mouth, is required if a worker is required to come within 2 metres of another person who is not wearing a face covering and not separated by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier.

Capacity Limits:

• All businesses or facilities must limit capacity so that every member of the public is able to maintain two metres of physical distancing from every other person, and limit the number of people occupying any room that is open to the public to 50% capacity of the particular room.
  • Some businesses or facilities have additional capacity restrictions that apply beyond the general
    capacity requirements
• All businesses or facilities that engage in retail sales to the public must post a sign in a location visible to the public that states the maximum capacity they are permitted to operate under.

Please Note:

• The maximum number of persons permitted in a business or facility that is operating at 50 per cent capacity is determined by taking the total square metres of floor space accessible to the public in the business or facility, not including shelving and store fixtures, dividing that number by 8 and rounding the result down to the nearest whole number.
• The maximum number of persons permitted in a business or facility that is operating at 25 per cent capacity is determined by taking the total square metres of floor space accessible to the public in the business or facility, not including shelving and store fixtures, dividing that number by 16 and rounding the result down to the nearest whole number.

Cleaning and Disinfection:

• Businesses or places that are open shall ensure that equipment, washrooms, locker rooms, change rooms, showers that are accessible to the public are cleaned and disinfected as frequently as is necessary to maintain a sanitary condition.

Face Coverings:

• Businesses or organizations must ensure that masks or face coverings are worn by any person (including members of the public and workers) in the indoor area of the business or
  organization, with limited exceptions.

Safety Plans:

• Requirement for all businesses open to prepare and make available a COVID-19 safety plan. A copy of the plan shall be made available to any person for review upon request, and be posted where it would come to the attention of individuals working in or attending the business.

Events and gatherings:

• No indoor organized public events and social gatherings
  • 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 to help reduce the negative impacts of social isolation
• Limit for outdoor organized public events and social gatherings must comply with public health advice on physical distancing
  • Maximum of 5 people outdoors

Weddings, funerals and other religious services, rites or ceremonies:

• Weddings, funerals and other religious services, rites or ceremonies where physical distancing can be maintained and in compliance with rules on face coverings
  • Maximum 10 people indoors
  • Maximum 10 people outdoors
  • Drive-in services, rites or ceremonies permitted, subject to certain conditions
  • Virtual services permitted

Post-secondary institutions:

• Post-secondary institutions open for virtual instruction, with limited exceptions where in-person instruction is required (e.g., clinical training, trades).
  • Subject to physical distancing with limited exceptions
  • In-person teaching (each instructional space at the institution at one time) and in-person examinations cannot exceed 10 persons, with limited exemptions for:
    • Diagnostic cardiac sonography and diagnostic medical sonography
    • Diagnostic ultrasound
    • Medical imaging
    • Medical laboratory assistant and Medical laboratory technician
    • Medical radiation technology
    • Medicine
    • Mental health and addictions services, including psychology services, social work services and counselling services
    • Nursing
    • Paramedic
    • Personal support worker, supportive care worker, home care worker or a similar occupation
    • Pharmacy/pharmacy technician
    • Public health inspector, if the program is accredited by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
    • Rehabilitation sciences (nutrition, speech language pathology, occupational science, and physiotherapy)
    • Respiratory therapy
    • Subject to additional requirements for in-person teaching that involves singing or the playing of brass or wind instruments

Day camps for children:

• Closed

 Schools:

• The Chief Medical Officer of Health will provide advice and an announcement will be made by January 20, 2021 regarding the return to in-person learning for Chatham-Kent

The following new health and safety measures will be introduced to further support protect students province-wide:

• Mandatory masking for students in Grades 1-3.
• Masking requirements outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
• Enhanced screening protocols will be introduced where recommended by the CMOH.
• 'Child Care Screening Tool' will be updated to reflect the new screening criteria.
• Expanded targeted testing

Child Care:

• Child care for non-school aged children (and JK and kindergarten children not enrolled in school immediately prior to December 21, 2020) will remain open including child care offered in licensed centres and in home-based settings (licensed and unlicensed).
• Emergency child care supports for essential workers will continue for locations where virtual learning is still in place. On January 25th more work categories were expanded.

In addition to the robust health and safety practices already in place in child care settings, the following new health and safety measures will be introduced to further protect children province-wide:

• Enhanced screening to align with screening requirements at schools
• Voluntary participation in targeted, asymptomatic testing

Supply chain:

• Businesses that supply businesses or places that are permitted to open within Ontario, or that supply businesses or services that have been declared essential in a jurisdiction outside of Ontario, with the support, products, supplies, systems, or services, including processing, packaging, warehousing, distribution, delivery, and maintenance necessary to operate

Meeting or event space:

Only permitted to open for:

• The operation of child care centres and authorized recreational and skill building programs within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
• Court services
• Government services
• Mental health and addictions support services (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) permitted to a maximum of 10 people
• Social services

Contact information recording required

Short-term rentals (e.g., cottages, cabins):

• Only to be provided to individuals who are in need of housing
• Does not apply to short-term rental accommodations that were reserved before the Safe at Home Restrictions period

Refer to the Services section for details on motels, hotels, lodges, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences health and workplace safety measures

Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments:

• Take out, drive through, and delivery permitted only
• Includes the sale of alcohol

In-person driving instruction:

• No in-person driving instruction permitted except:
  • For instruction for drivers of commercial motor vehicles
  • Where the instruction is part of the Ontario Driver Certification Program administered by the Ministry of Transportation and involves the operation of motor vehicles for which:
    • A class of driver’s licence other than Class G, G1, G2, M, M1 or M2 is required
    • An air brake endorsement is required
  • Or that is provided by a private career college, in accordance with certain conditions

Retailers Supermarkets, convenience stores, indoor farmer’s markets and other stores that primarily sell food:

• Open for in-person retail, subject to:
  • Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility and complying with face covering rules
  • The number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public does not exceed 50% capacity of the particular room
  • Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted

Pharmacies:

• Open for in-person retail, subject to:
  • Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility and complying with face covering rules
  • The number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public does not exceed 50% capacity of the particular room
  • Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted

Discount and big box retailers:

New (Jan 12, 2021) Discount retailers and big box stores that sell groceries

Open for in-person retail, subject to:

• Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility
• The number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public does not exceed 25% capacity of the particular room
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted

Other retailers:

• Distancing and face covering rules apply

•Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

Safety supply stores, businesses that sell, rent or repair assistive/mobility/medical devices, and optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public:

• By appointment only
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted
• Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

Stores that sell liquor, including beer, wine and spirits:

• Limit the number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public in the business does not exceed 25% of the particular room
• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted
• Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

Shopping malls:

• Closed for in-person retail. Members of the public are only permitted to enter the mall to:
  • Access businesses and organizations permitted to be open (e.g., pharmacy, dentist); food court open for take-away, or by appointment only to facilitate pick-up as set out below
  • Access court services and government services

• Shopping mall may establish:
  • A single designated location inside the shopping mall for order pick-up by patrons. Pick-up inside the shopping mall must be by appointment only
  • Any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall for curbside pick-up by patrons

• Members of the public not permitted to loiter in any area of the shopping mall that is not related to the purpose of their visit

• Must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m., except to provide access to grocery store, supermarkets, pharmacies, and health care providers that only have public entrances that face the interior of the mall

Cannabis retail stores operating under the authority of a retail store authorization issued under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018:

• By curbside pick-up or delivery only
• Operating hours of 7am to 8pm
• An item may only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premises

Garden centres:

• Curbside pick-up and delivery permitted
• Operating hours of 7am to 8pm
• An item may only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premises

Motor vehicle sales:

• Includes cars, trucks and motorcycles; recreational vehicles including motor homes; trailers and travel trailers; boats and other watercraft; and other motorized vehicles, including power-assisted bicycles, golf carts, scooters, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles
• By appointment only
• Members of the public must not be permitted where products are neither sold nor displayed for sale
• Subject to certain conditions related to test drives
• Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

Outdoor markets:

• Includes farmer’s markets and holiday markets only if they primarily sell food to the public
• Must require members of the public to remain outdoors at all times, including for curbside pick-up or delivery
• Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

General Retail (all other retail, including hardware stores, pet food, computer stores, etc.):

• Curbside pick-up or delivery only (in-person retail shopping not permitted)
• Sales must be exclusively made so patrons are not required to enter the indoor area of the business, including curbside pick-up or delivery

Services Rental and leasing services, including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental:

• By appointment only

Gas stations and other fuel suppliers

Automated and self-service car washes

Laundromats and drycleaners

Snow clearing and landscaping services

Security services for residences, businesses and other properties

Domestic services

• Only to support children, seniors or vulnerable persons, including housekeeping, cooking, indoor and outdoor cleaning and maintenance services

Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services

• By appointment only

Courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services:

Funeral and related services

Staffing services including providing temporary help

Veterinary services

• For services that are necessary for the immediate health and welfare of the animal only, or provided through curb side pick-up and drop-off of the animal

Other businesses that provide for the health and welfare of animals, including farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters and research facilities

Businesses that provide pet training exclusively for service animals

Hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences

• Any indoor pools, indoor fitness centres, or other indoor recreational facilities that are part of the operation of these businesses, are closed
• Pre-arranged booking for short-term rentals prohibited with exceptions for housing requirements

Services, continued Seasonal campgrounds:

• Must be made available only for trailers and recreational vehicles used by individuals in need of housing or are permitted to be there by seasonal contract
• Only campsites with electricity, water service and facilities for sewage disposal may be provided for use
• All recreational and other shared facilities, excluding washrooms and showers must be closed
• Other areas of the seasonal campground must be closed to the general public and must only be opened for the purpose of preparing the seasonal campground for reopening

Community Centres:

• Permitted to open for:
  • The operation of child care centres and authorized recreational and skill building programs within the meaning of the Child Care and Early YearsAct, 2014
  • Mental health and addictions support services (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) permitted to a maximum of 10 people
  • Social services

Cheque cashing services

Financial services

• Capital markets and related securities trading and advisory services
• Banking/credit union activities including credit intermediation
• Insurance
• Land registration services
• Pension and benefits payment services
• Financial services including payroll and payment processing and accounting and tax services

Real estate (including pre-sale construction)

Real estate (including pre-sale construction)

• No open houses - showing a property permitted by appointment only

Telecommunications and IT infrastructure/service providers

Information Technology (IT) services, including online services, software products and the facilities necessary for their operation and delivery

Telecommunications providers and services (phone, internet, radio, cell phones etc.) and facilities necessary for their operation and delivery:

• Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service may only permit members of the public to enter the premises by appointment and only for repairs or technical support

Newspapers, radio and television broadcasting

Maintenance:

• Maintenance, repair and property management services that manage and maintain the safety, security, sanitation and operation of institutional, commercial, industrial and residential properties and buildings

Transportation services:

• Businesses and facilities that provide transportation services, including:
  • Transportation services provided by air, water, road, and rail, including taxis and other private transportation providers, and
  • Support services for transportation services, including:
    • Logistical support, distribution services, warehousing and storage, truck stops and tow operators, and
    • Services that support the operations and safety of transportation systems including maintenance and repairs
  • Marinas, boating clubs and other organizations that maintain docking facilities for members or patrons with conditions
  • Businesses that provide and support online retail, including by providing warehousing, storage and distribution of goods that are ordered online

Manufacturing:

• Businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials, including businesses that manufacture inputs to other manufacturers (e.g. primary metal/ steel, blow molding, component manufacturers, chemicals, etc. that feed the end-product manufacturer), regardless of whether those other manufacturers are inside or outside of Ontario, together with businesses that support and facilitate the movement of goods within integrated North American and global supply chains

Agriculture and food production:

• Businesses that produce food and beverages, and agricultural products including plants, including by farming, harvesting, aquaculture, hunting and fishing
• Businesses that process, manufacture or distribute food, beverages, crops, agricultural products, animal products and by-products
• Businesses that support the food or agricultural products supply chains and the health and safety of food, animals and plants

Construction:

• Permitted construction activities or projects and related services that support construction activities or projects, including land surveying and demolition services.

Resources and energy:

• Businesses that provide and ensure the domestic and global continuity of supply of resources, including, resource exploration, mining, forestry, aggregates, petroleum, petroleum by-products and chemicals
• Electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage and natural gas distribution, transmission and storage

Community services:

Businesses that deliver or support the delivery of community services including:

• Sewage treatment and disposal
• Collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste
• Potable drinking water
• Critical infrastructure repair and maintenance including roads, dams, bridges etc.
• Environmental rehabilitation, management and monitoring, and spill clean-up and response
• Administrative authorities that regulate and inspect businesses
• Professional and social services that support the legal and justice system
• Government services including but not limited to policing and law enforcement, fire and emergency services, paramedics, coroner and pathology services, corrections and court services, licences and permits
• Allotment gardens or community gardens

Facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness activities:

• Closure of all indoor and outdoor sports and recreational fitness facilities except for:
  • Facilities operated or for the sole use of high performance athletes, including parasport athletes, and specified professional leagues (e.g., NHL, CFL, MLS, NBA) and
  • Facilities opened solely for specified purposes (e.g. child care)
• Community centres and multi-purpose facilities (e.g., YMCA) allowed to be open for permitted activities (e.g., child care services, mental health and addiction support services [limited to 10 people maximum], social services)
• All subject to conditions

Outdoor recreational amenities:

• No person is permitted to use an indoor or outdoor recreational amenity that is required to be closed
• Outdoor recreational amenities permitted to open subject to conditions include (weather permitting):
  • Parks and recreational areas
  • Baseball diamonds
  • Batting cages
  • Soccer, football and sports fields
  • Tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts
  • Basketball courts
  • BMX parks
  • Skate parks
  • Golf courses and driving ranges
  • Frisbee golf locations
  • Cycling tracks and bike trails
  • Horse riding facilities
  • Shooting ranges, including those operated by rod and gun clubs
  • Ice rinks
  • Snowmobile, cross country, dogsledding, ice-skating and snow-shoe trails
  • Playgrounds
  • Portions of parks or recreational areas containing outdoor fitness equipment
  • Tobogganing hills and skating trails

A permitted outdoor recreational amenity may only open if:

• Any person who enters or uses the amenity maintains a physical distance of at least two metres from other person using the amenity (excluding members of the same household)
• Team sports, or other sports or games where people may come within two metres of each other, are not practiced or played within the amenity
• Any locker rooms, change rooms, showers and clubhouses remain closed, except to the extent they provide access to equipment storage, a washroom or a portion of the amenity that is used to provide first aid
• Ski hills are closed

Research:

• Businesses and organizations that maintain research facilities and engage in research, including medical research and other research and development activities

Health care and social services:

• Organizations and providers that deliver home care services or personal support services to seniors and persons with disabilities
• Regulated health professionals
• Professionals or organizations that provide in-person counselling services
• Organizations that provide health care including retirement homes, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, independent health facilities and mental health and addictions counselling supports
• Laboratories and specimen collection centres
• Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers of pharmaceutical products and medical supplies, including medications, medical isotopes, vaccines and antivirals, medical devices and medical supplies
• Manufacturers, distributors and businesses that provide logistical support of or for products and/or services that support the delivery of health care in all locations
• Organizations that provide critical personal support services in home or residential services for individuals with physical disabilities
• Organizations that support the provision of food, shelter, safety or protection, and/or social services and other necessities of life to economically disadvantaged and other vulnerable individuals
• Businesses that are primarily engaged in the provision of health and safety training with conditions

Media industries, sound recording, production, publishing and distribution businesses

Film and television production, including all supporting activities such as hair, makeup and wardrobe:

• No studio audiences permitted to be on the film or television set
• No more than 10 performers may be permitted to be on the film or television set
• Set must be configured and operated in such a way as to enable persons on the set to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from other persons, except where necessary for the filming of the film or television production
• Persons who provide hair or makeup services must wear appropriate personal protective equipment
• Singers and players of brass or wind instruments must be separated from any other performers by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier

Film and television postproduction, visual effects and animation studios

Book and periodical production, publishing and distribution businesses

Commercial and industrial photography:

• Does not permit retail studios to open

Interactive digital media businesses, including:

• Computer system software or application developers and publishers, and
• Video game developers and publishers

Entertainment Concert venues, theatres and cinemas:

Closed, including drive through events-

Libraries Libraries may open:

• For contactless curbside, delivery, and pick-up
• For permitted services (e.g., child care services, mental health and addiction support services to a limit of 10 persons [AA meetings], provision of social services)
• If they ensure that circulating materials returned to the library are disinfected or quarantined for an appropriate period of time before they are recirculated
• Contact information recording required

Museums and cultural amenities - CLOSED

Horse racing:

• Training only, no races, no members of the public (i.e., spectators)

Night clubs and strip clubs

• Only permitted to open if they operate as a food or drink establishment, subject to conditions that apply to restaurants and bars, etc.

Zoos and aquariums Zoos and aquariums:

• Closed to the public
• Permitted to operate for the care of animals

Amusement parks, water parks - CLOSED

Bathhouses and sex clubs - CLOSED

Tour and guide services - CLOSED

Motorsports - CLOSED

Personal care services - CLOSED

Casinos, Bingo Halls and Gaming Establishments - CLOSED

Local Resources

Employers and business owners, visit our Workplace section for more information and guidance documents.

Visit our Stop the Spread page for more information about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

If you have questions about the impact on other Municipal services (i.e. garbage pick-up, licensing, etc.) please visit www.chatham-kent.ca.

Provincial Resources

Ontario's COVID-19 Response Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework

Government of Ontario Resources to Prevent COVID-19 in Workplaces

Canadian Resources

Travel information

Enforcement

CK Police release on 'Stay at Home' Orders states that:

The Chatham-Kent Police will not be randomly stopping vehicles or people walking, for the sole purpose of checking for compliance with the Stay-at-Home Order.  We will continue to be proactive in an effort to educate citizens if an offence is observed to ensure compliance.  We will also triage complaints with Municipal By-Law officers.  Complaints and concerns regarding violations should be reported by calling 311 or via email COVID19Enforcement@chatham-kent.ca

NEW: (Jan 12, 2021) Under the provincial emergency, the following enhanced enforcement authorities will be in place:

• All provincial offences officers, including police officers, will have the authority to disperse crowds indoors as well as outdoors. When a group of more than five people who are not from the same household are gathering outdoors, they can be asked asked to leave and the premise may be closed.
• Enforcement personnel have the authority to issue tickets to individuals, employees and corporations in retail settings and businesses if found not complying with an order (e.g. staff member or customer not wearing a face covering.)

In Ontario, people who are being charged with an offence under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act will be required to identify themselves (correct name, date of birth and address) if asked by a provincial offences officer, which includes police officers, First Nations constables, special constables and municipal by-law enforcement officers. Failing to correctly identify oneself carries a fine of $750 for failure to comply with an order made under the EMCPA or $1,000 for obstructing any person in exercising a power if a provincial offences officer issues a ticket.

In addition, failure to comply with an emergency order could carry punishments of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual, $500,000 for a director of a corporation, or $10,000,000 for a corporation itself if a provincial offences officer charges the individual by issuing a summons.