TORONTO — To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of people across the province, the Ontario government has extended all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until April 23, 2020, including the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings and the prohibition of price gouging.
In addition, new measures have been introduced to address surge capacity in retirement homes, restrict recreational camping on Crown land, and allow the repurposing of existing buildings and temporary structures. All of these actions are based on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
“I understand the actions we are taking are affecting the lives and livelihoods of people across the province, but these are extraordinary times and we need to do whatever we can to keep individuals and families safe and stop the spread of this terrible virus,” said Premier Ford. “We all must continue to do our part by staying home and practicing physical distancing. With the proper precautions and additional measures we’re taking today, I am confident we will get through this together and stronger.”
Ontario introduced the following new steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The government is:
- Making it easier to repurpose existing buildings and put up temporary structures, like tents, so communities can meet their local needs quickly. This will reduce pressure on health care facilities, where needed, and help shelters provide more space for sleeping to maintain the physical distancing requirements to reduce the spread of the virus.
- Temporarily enabling hospitals to increase their capacity by using the beds and services of retirement homes without certain labour relations implications during the declared provincial emergency.
- Prohibiting recreational camping on Crown land as of April 9, 2020. Under the emergency order, no individual can camp on Crown land, including the placement of tents or other camping structures, while the order is in effect. The government will continue to monitor the situation and re-evaluate if further actions are required.
- Supporting construction workers and businesses with emergency action to help improve cash flow in the construction industry during the COVID-19 outbreak. This will lift the suspension of limitation periods and procedural time periods under the Construction Act and allow the release of holdback payments to contractors and subcontractors.
The following emergency orders have been extended until April 23, 2020:
- Closure of public places and establishments with exemption for emergency child care for health care and frontline essential service workers
- Prohibiting events and gatherings of more than five people
- Work deployment for health service providers
- Drinking water and sewage
- Electronic service of documents
- Work deployment for long-term care homes
- Electricity pricing
- Closure of non-essential workplaces
- Traffic management
- Streamlining requirements for long-term care homes
- Prohibiting unfair pricing for necessary goods
- Enforcement of orders
- Work deployment for boards of health
- Work deployment measures in retirement homes
- Access to COVID-19 status information by specified persons
- Service agencies providing services and supports to adults with developmental disabilities
- Pick up and deli very of cannabis
- Signatures in wills and powers of attorney
- Use of force and firearms in policing services
Closure of outdoor recreational amenities
Fear is a healthy thing to have. It keeps us focused on the virus and pushes us out of our comfort zone to do what is right for our families, friends, neighbours and our communities. Stay socially distant and do the right thing. How would you feel if someone died because you took this too lightly? Plenty of time after this is over to dissect
what we did or could have done better.
Marilyn Nirkkola fear will bring you to make deadly mistakes. No fear= No mistakes
Lisa Philp Actually, fear is what makes people think twice and often stop to figure things out. Panic is where people make mistakes.
But this is still going ahead? https://saultonline.com/2020/04/sault-ste-marie-to-open-child-care-for-health-care-and-essential-service-workers/
No it hasn’t been.
Blown out of proportion much?
Absolutly not.
Yeah, they just made more mass graves in NYC to deal with the unclaimed bodies.
Not blown out of proportion
Lisa Philp just gonna leave this here for ya
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
Not enough done.
Lisa Philp till we don’t and then need mass graves.
Joe Bumbacco numbers are just numbers…. Truth is cause of deaths can’t be proven that it was COVID. They said the first person died of COVID and it wasn’t even the cause
I don’t have fear like everyone else. I am not going to ‘stess’ like everyone else. I refuse to panic.
Just because everyone else is acting like it
They(the media) is pumping up the numbers to instil fear.
Lisa Philp I just lost my 45 year old uncle to this virus today. He was an amazing man, fabulous father to his kids and loving husband to his wife. We will be attending an online funeral this Wednesday. He had no health ailments, but wasn’t able to get a ventilator. I truly hope your cavalier attitude doesn’t cost you, anyone you’ve been in contact with directly or indirectly this kind of heartbreak
Lisa Philp and yes they absolutely can prove the cause of death.
Lisa Philp huh!?
Lisa Philp thinking like this is exactly why they tell you not to swallow toothpaste.
Karleigh Burnen sorry about your uncle was it here in the soo
Edmond Dantez thank you and no he lives down south but has family here. Its hard because all we want to do is be together and help someone and so heart breaking he had to pass away alone. That hurts my heart to no end family can’t even go in rooms while they die to say their goodbyes. His wife was able to talk to him on the phone but it’s not the same as holding his hand
I just as people to please for the love of god, please take this seriously 💔💔💔
I’m in Elliot Lake, Blind River and the sault normally for work but not traveling I clients unless absolutely necessary as I’m a home care nurse.
No, not at all. There is no vaccine yet. This virus is killing people all over the world and in order to stop its’ spread the best that we can, this is what we must do until a vaccine is created that will protect us against it.
Karleigh Burnen I am very sorry for your loss. This virus is bad and I get it.
Karleigh Burnen what I am saying not all countries are being honest
I get precautions… Heck I’m all for it! But where do you draw the line and say ‘Enough is enough!’ . When will people get a back bone? You have to know when things are getting out of hand.
All I can do is do my part (wash my hands and stuff… Leave masks for the health care. I don’t walk around town wearing gloves you’ll use 50 pairs by the time your done in the store alone! If you use gloves properly!!!) and leave the part the is beyond my control in God’s hands. I know he is in control of this whole situation.
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