Due to COVID-19, on March 13th, Chatham-Kent’s Medical Officer of Health declared a local Emergency in Chatham-Kent. Ontario declared a provincial emergency on March 17th.

With the declaration of emergency, the Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health and Ontario government have put a number of orders in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.

More information from the Ontario government about closures.

INDOOR Public Events & Gatherings Limited to 50 people or Less/ OUTDOOR Public Events & Gatherings Limited to 100 people of Less (Chatham-Kent, beginning July 17)

• Social gatherings are different than social circles;
• Can be a gathering of any group of up to 50 (indoor) or 100 (outdoor);
• People who are not from the same social circle must physically distance (2 metres/6 feet) from each other;
• People at their place of work do not count towards gather limits;
• Indoor gathering limits apply to events that are fully or partially indoors. Indoor events and
  gatherings cannot be combined with an outdoor event or gathering to increase the applicable
  gathering size.

Travel Restrictions (Canada-Wide)

• Avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada, including  cruise ships;
• Non-essential travel is prohibited at the Canada-U.S. border (i.e. tourism, entertainment, recreation);
• Any person entering Canada by air, sea or land MUST self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they have symptoms of COVID-19;
• You may be required to wear face coverings while travelling;
• Staff at airlines and railways are screening and preventing travellers with symptoms from boarding;
• All commercial marine vessels with a capacity of more than 12 passengers are prohibited from engaging in non-essential activities (i.e. tourism & recreation) until June 30th.

Violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada could lead to up to 6 months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.

ServiceOntario Centres (Ontario-wide)

• Some closures – people are asked only to visit if absolutely necessary;
• Government of Ontario extended the validity of driver, vehicle & carrier products and services that expired on or after March 1, 2020;
• Visit the Government of Ontario Extended Validation Period webpage for more information. 

Schools & Day Camps

• All public & private schools closed for remainder of year (Ontario-wide);
• Day camps are not permitted to be open and  remain closed at this time( Chatham-Kent, July 14);
• No overnight camps are permitted

Recreational Activities & Facilities

• Any recreational activities that do not allow for 2-metre physical distancing between people (Ontario);
• Municipal swimming pools (Chatham-Kent);
• Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports

Restaurants, Bars & Entertainment (Chatham-Kent & Ontario)

• Buffet-style food services
• Dancing at restaurants and bars, other than by performers hired by the establishment following specific requirements
• Private karaoke rooms

Personal Care Services

• Saunas, steam rooms, bath houses and oxygen bars
• Baths, hot tubs, float pools & sensory deprivation pods, except for therapeutic purposes prescribed by or administered by a regulated health professional.

Libraries

• In addition to the services resumed in Stage 2, libraries may reopen for all on-site services, as long as materials that are circulated, returned or accessed within the library are disinfected or quarantined before being recirculated.

Keep 2-metres from others who are from outside your designated social circle and wear a non-medical mask when physical distancing is not possible.

Please consult with services & businesses before visiting to learn how they are operating.

See our Guide to Safe Shopping.

Social Circles

• You can now establish a family or social circle of no more than 10 people who can interact with one another without physical distancing;
• Visit our Social Circles post to learn more.

Child Care Facilities 

• With proper health and safety measures, including limits to operational capacity to 90% of spaces available;
• Connect with your child care operator for more information.

Health & Medical Services

• Certain health & medical services (i.e. in-person counselling, in-person services, in addition to virtual services, and scheduled surgeries);
• Health care providers are still encouraged to limit in-person visits. Check with your health care provider about their current practices.

Visiting Long-Term Care Homes & Hospices (Chatham-Kent & Ontario)

• As of June 18, visits will be allowed in long term care homes, retirement homes, and other residential care homes where people live together to receive care and supports in Chatham-Kent (i.e. group homes, shelters, etc.) ;
  • Visitors going inside (indoor visit) the facility (as of July 22) must have been tested for COVID-19 within the previous 14 days before visiting and attest to the living setting that they have tested negative.
• Check with the institution you are planning to visit for more details;
• See our Visiting Loved Ones Post for more details.

Places of Worship 

• No more than 30% capacity;
• People from outside the same designated social circle must stay at least 2 metres or 6 feet apart in all directions;
• Wear a non-medical mask if you are not sure if you will be able to maintain distance;
• 2 of every 3 pews should be empty;
• Hand sanitizer of at least 70% alcohol must be offered;
• Refrain from singing;
• Nothing should be handed around between members;
• Fellowship before & after a service cannot be held.

Weddings & Funeral Services 

• indoor wedding and funeral services with the number of participants not exceeding 30% of venue capacity;
• outdoor wedding and funeral ceremonies will be limited to 100 attendees (not including staff);
• guests not part of the same designated social circle should follow physical distancing guidelines;
• Indoor funeral services and visitations require face coverings for participants (June 15)

DriveTest Centres/ Driver Education

• will begin offering limited services June 22 for G1, M1 knowledge tests, driver’s license exchanges and commercial driver’s licence applications and upgrades
• commercial road tests will also be available by appointment at some locations;
• only visit if need is urgent;
• customers are required to wear face coverings inside centres and during road tests, sanitize hands when they enter the building and undergo temperature checks before road tests;
• access will vary weekly by birthdate month until full services are restored.
• one student permitted with instructor

Workplaces

•  Workplaces following workplace health & safety guidance and ensuring appropriate measures are in place.

Restaurants, Bars & Other Food Premises 

• Restaurants, bars, food trucks & other food and drink establishment (i.e. wineries, breweries and distilleries) can open for indoor patrons up to 50, not including staff (July 17);
• Access to indoor facilities is limited to patio/outdoor dining area access, food pickup, payment, washrooms or other health & safety purposes for outdoor patrons;
• Patrons are encouraged to only dine with people from their designated social circle unless you can maintain 2 metres distance from others.

Retail Stores & Shopping Malls

• All retail services are permitted to open
• Shopping centres, malls & markets can now offer indoor food services (July 17)
• Vehicle dealerships & retailers (care, truck, motorcycle, RV, boats, etc.);
• Hardware stores and safety supply stores;
• Garden centers and nurseries.
• All fitting rooms may reopen, as long as patrons are not permitted to occupy adjacent fitting room stalls at any one time. (July 17)

Construction

• No essential workplace limits on construction.

Personal Care Services 

• Hair services, beauty salons, hair removal services, diet centres, piercing services, day spas, tanning salons, tattoo studios; services to the face are now  permitted (July 17)
• Restrictions:
  • Steam rooms, saunas & bath houses must remain closed;
  • Baths, hot tubs, floating pools & sensory deprivation pods are closed except for therapeutic purposes prescribed by or administered by a regulated health professional;
• Where physical distancing cannot be maintained, patrons & workers must wear face coverings or other PPE where appropriate.

Pet & Animal Services

• Pet care services (i.e. grooming, training, & regular veterinary appointments);
• Businesses that board animals, (i.e. stables may allow boarders to visit, care for or ride their animal).

Personal Services

• Must be provided with physical distancing of at least 2 metres;
• Indoor & outdoor household services that can follow public health guidelines (i.e. housekeepers, cooks, cleaning, maintenance, lawn care & landscaping);
• Automatic and self-serve car washes;
• House sitting, party, wedding planning & consulting services;
• Personal organizer services;
• Personal physical fitness trainer & sports trainers;
• Personal shopping services;
• Porter services;
• Shoe services (e.g. shining, repair);
• Check room services (e.g. coat check, suitcase storage);
• Wedding chapels.

Sport and Recreational Fitness Facilities

Examples of facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities include gyms, fitness studios, and community centres.

• Physical distancing must be maintained, except if playing a team sport or as needed for personal training.
• The total number of people permitted in areas containing weights or exercise machines is limited to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing of at least two metres, which cannot exceed the indoor gathering limit of 50 people.
• The total number people permitted in classes or organized activities at any one time is limited to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing of at least two metres, and cannot exceed the indoor gathering limit of 50 people or the outdoor limit of 100.
• Assigned spaces are strongly recommended for organized fitness classes (e.g., by marking circles on the floor to designate where each person should exercise)
• Gathering limits do not apply in all other areas (e.g., pools, tennis courts and rinks).
• Equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between user sets or at the end of a game.
• Any washrooms, locker rooms, change rooms, showers or similar amenities made available to the public must be cleaned and disinfected frequently.
• Steam rooms and saunas are not yet permitted to open

Outdoor Recreation

• Team Sports and Live Sporting Events (July 17)
  • Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports is not permitted.
  • Team sports in which body contact between players is either an integral component of the sport or commonly occurs while engaged in the sport (e.g., wrestling, judo) are not yet permitted, unless the approach can be modified to prevent prolonged or deliberate physical contact
  • Amateur and recreational sports leagues may resume so long as they do not allow prolonged or deliberate physical contact between players or if they have modifications to avoid physical contact between players.
  • Leagues must contain no more than 50 participants total. If participants in a league exceed 50, the league may divide into smaller groups of no more than 50. Players are not yet permitted to play against players outside of their league or group.
  • Spectators at all sporting events, including professional sports, will be subject to gathering limits and physical distancing measures, with assigned seating where possible
• Golf courses
  • clubhouses only for washrooms & restaurants only for take-out
• Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches
  • for recreational use
• Off-leash dog areas
• Outdoor picnic sites, benches & shelters in parks & recreational areas
• Chatham-Kent trails
• Conservation areas
• Community gardens

Beaches, Parks, Camping 

• Beaches
  • if adhering to public health measures;
  • playground equipment remains is permitted to open (July 17)
• Camping
  • Check what facilities & services are available before visiting a provincial park.
• Ontario Parks & Private Campgrounds
  • for recreational vehicle, car and all other types of camping;
  • Campers must adhere to social gathering size restrictions & maintain 2-metres physical distancing from people outside their social circle;
• Parks Canada
  • will begin to offer some camping services at select national parks and national historic sites beginning June 22
  • visit Parks Canada website for more details
• Crown Land
  • Recreational camping, not including shared facilities.

Tourism, Attractions & Heritage Institutions

• Short-term rentals
  • Including cabins, lodges, cottages, homes, condominiums & B&Bs;
  • Access to pools, fitness centres, meeting rooms & other recreational facilitites is prohibited;
  • Continue to keep 2M/6FT from people outside of your designated social circle.
• Museums, aquariums, zoos, outdoor heritage institutions
  • i.e. landmarks, outdoor historic sites, botanical gardens & other establishments primarily engaged in preserving and exhibiting objects, sites & natural wonders of historical, cultural and educational value;
  • Interactive and high-contact exhibits, amusement parks, water parks & conference centres remain closed;
• Tour and guide services, including boat tours, the number of patrons is subject to gathering limits.
  • Physical distancing of at least two metres must be maintained between all individuals, except for those from the same household or social circle.
  • The outdoor gathering limit of 100 applies if patrons will be outside for the duration of the tour except to access washrooms, in transit to an outdoor area, or for health and safety reasons.
  • As with other gatherings and events, the indoor gathering limit of 50 applies if the gathering is fully or partially indoors.
• Movie theatres (July 31)
  • Resume showings on all screens, with a limit of 50 people per cinema (theatre).
  • Movie theatres would still have to ensure physical distancing during screenings and clean seats, touch surfaces and washrooms between showings. Movie times would also have to be staggered to avoid overcrowding.

Outdoor Recreational & Team Sports

• Seasonal businesses & recreational activities for individual or single competitors;
• Indoor and outdoor non-team sport competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators;
  • i.e. singles tennis, track & field, cycling tracks, horse riding facilities, rod & gun clubs;
  • does not include contact sports.
• Outdoor team sports
  • If physically distanced
  • For training only, no scrimmages or games;
  • No locker rooms, change rooms or showers.

Drive-In & Drive-Thru Venues 

• Such as theatres, concerts, animal attractions & cultural appreciation, such as art installations;
• Operators must have procedures in place to ensure people remain in their cars except for using the washroom or in emergency.

Libraries

• In addition to the services resumed in Stage 2, libraries may reopen for all on-site services, as long as materials that are circulated, returned or accessed within the library are disinfected or quarantined before being recirculated.

Community Centres (June 12)

• With limited or modified on-site programs & services i.e. counselling, group counselling, computer access, education & tutoring;
• Food services can now provide indoor options (July 17)
• Indoor pools (that are not municipal) may open;
• Access to locker rooms, change rooms, showers and communal kitchen areas is not allowed.

Recreational Courses and Instruction (July 17)

Examples of recreational courses and instruction include music lessons, language classes, tutoring and art classes.

• All instructional classes are subject to gathering limits.
• Physical distancing must be in place for participants, other than when necessary for instruction. Face coverings are recommended in those situations
• Equipment must be cleaned and disinfected frequently
• Plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier and physical distancing are required for any instruction that involves singing or playing wind or brass instruments

Enforcement

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.

Contact CK Public Health’s COVID-19 intake line at 519.355.1071 x 1900 or email at covid19@chatham-kent.ca for more information. 

If you have concerns regarding gatherings (more than 50 indoors/100 outdoors), please call 519-360-1998 or email covid19enforcement@chatham-kent.ca

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 Framework for Re-Opening

Detailed list of Stage 2 Openings

Detailed list of Stage 3 Openings

Government of Ontario service changes and public closures

Government of Ontario list of essential workplaces

Government of Ontario Resources to Prevent COVID-19 in Workplaces

Canadian Resources

Travel information