During a press conference this afternoon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced the application of additional public health and workplace safety measures, including capacity and social gathering limits, effective at 12:01 a.m. on December 19, 2021.
These measures are intended to help curb transmission and continue to safeguard Ontario’s hospitals and ICU capacity as the province rapidly accelerates its booster dose rollout.
“It is discouraging that this virus has not gone away,” stated Lord Mayor Betty Disero. “I want to encourage the community to stay patient, follow the COVID-19 health protocols, and continue to protect each other.”
“The need for strengthened restrictions is certainly disheartening, especially leading into the holidays,” stated CAO Marnie Cluckie. “The health and safety of our community remains paramount, and we are committed to supporting the Province in its efforts to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. We thank you for your understanding as we navigate these new waters.”
To further strengthen its response to Omicron and reduce opportunities for close contact, the Province is introducing a 50 per cent capacity limit in the following indoor public settings, effective 12:01 a.m. December 19, 2021:
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments and strip clubs
- Personal care services
- Personal physical fitness trainers
- Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies)
- Shopping malls
- Non-spectator areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g., gyms)
- Indoor recreational amenities
- Indoor clubhouses at outdoor recreational amenities
- Tour and guide services
- Photography studios and services
- Marinas and boating clubs
These limits do not apply to any portion of a business or place that is being used for a wedding ceremony, funeral or religious service, rite, or ceremony. Businesses or facilities are required to post a sign stating the capacity limits that are permitted in the establishment.
To further reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, additional protective measures are also being applied, effective 12:01 a.m. December 19, 2021:
- The number of patrons permitted to sit at a table will be limited to 10 people, and patrons will be required to remain seated in restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments, meeting and event spaces and strip clubs.
- Bars and restaurants, meeting and event spaces and strip clubs will be required to close by 11:00 p.m. Takeout and delivery will be permitted beyond 11:00 p.m.
- Dancing will not be allowed except for workers or performers.
- Food and/or drink services will be prohibited at sporting events, concert venues, theatres and cinemas, casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments, and horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues.
- The sale of alcohol will be restricted after 10:00 p.m. and consumption of alcohol in businesses or settings after 11:00 p.m.
In addition, to mitigating COVID-19 transmission that can occur at informal social gatherings, the Province is reducing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
While the Province has yet to release a revised regulation, it has noted that in response to emerging global evidence of increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, the Chief Medical Officer of Health is also updating the personal protective equipment requirements outlined in Directive 5, to provide interim guidance requiring N95 masks for health care workers providing direct care to or interacting with a suspected, probable, or confirmed case of COVID-19.
The Town will provide further communications as more information becomes available from the Province and Niagara Region Public Health.
Visit covid-19.ontario.ca for the most up-to-date information from the Provincial Government.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information about COVID-19 related measures being taken by Niagara-on-the-Lake, please visit notl.com/COVID-19, or call 905-468-3266.
Community members looking to report contraventions of Emergency Orders are asked to email covidcomplaints@notl.com. After-hours complaints or urgent issues can be reported by calling the Niagara Regional Police Service’s non-emergency line at 905-688-4111.
For immediate alerts, follow the Town on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
For more information, please contact:
Lauren Kruitbosch, Community Engagement Coordinator
905-468-6458 | lauren.kruitbosch@notl.com