News Release

Stay-at-Home Order Extended in Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions Along with North Bay-Parry Sound

February 19, 2021

York Region to Return to Strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework

TORONTO — In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the local medical officers of health, the Ontario government is maintaining the shutdown, the Stay-at-Home order and all existing public health and workplace safety measures for an additional two weeks in the Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions, along with the North Bay-Parry Sound District. The York Public Health Region will transition out of the shutdown and into the revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open.

"Our government's number one priority is the safety of all individuals and families, and that's why we are taking a gradual, cautious approach to returning regions to the Framework," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "These are difficult but necessary decisions, in order to protect against COVID-19 variants and maintain the progress we have all made together. Until vaccines are widely available, we continue to urge all Ontarians to follow public health advice and measures, and stay home, stay safe, and save lives."

In the Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions, and the North Bay-Parry Sound District, the shutdown measures and the Stay-at-Home order will continue to apply until at least Monday, March 8, 2021, based on key public health indicators and following consultation with the local medical officers of health. While the Peel and Toronto regions have seen a reduction in COVID-19 transmission from the period of February 8 to 17, 2021, rates still remain too high in the regions, with case rates of 83.4 cases per 100,000 people for Peel and 67.9 cases per 100,000 people for Toronto, both well above the provincial average. During this same period of time, North Bay Parry Sound District has also seen its case rate increase by 11.5 per cent to 14.6 cases per 100,000 people. Variants of concern also remain a serious risk to community transmission and health system capacity.

Based on a general improvement in trends of key indicators, York Region Public Health will be moving back to the Framework at the Red-Control level and will no longer be subject to the Stay-at-Home order. In addition, Lambton Public Health will be moving from the Orange-Restrict level to the Red-Control level as a result worsening public health trends in the region over the past week. These changes will come into effect on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.

After returning to the Framework, public health regions are required to stay in their level for at least two weeks. The government will then assess the impact of public health and workplace safety measures to determine if the region should stay where it is or be moved to a different level. Public health regions may be moved to a higher level within the two-week window, if necessary, based on the set indicators and thresholds outlined in the Framework. In addition, Ontario has introduced an "emergency brake" to allow the Chief Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the local medical officer of health, to immediately advise moving a region into Grey-Lockdown to interrupt transmission.

"While the health indicators have improved enough to allow us to return an additional region to the Framework, we are not yet at the point where we can safely transition back the remainder of the province," said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. "Everyone is strongly advised to continue staying at home, avoid social gatherings, only travel between regions for essential purposes, and limit close contacts to your household or those you live with regardless of which level of the Framework you are in."

The Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to consult with public health and other experts, review data, and provide advice to the government on the appropriate and effective measures that are needed to protect the health of Ontarians. 

QUICK FACTS

• Find out what level and which regional public measures are in place for your area.
• On February 8th the government announced an extension of the shutdown in the majority of public health regions in Ontario and a gradual transition of each region to a revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework when it is safe to do so.
• In addition to the Stay-at-Home orders that apply to the North Bay-Parry Sound District, Toronto and Peel public health regions, the following orders currently in force under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA) will be extended to March 8, 2021 and further if necessary: O.Reg 55/21 (Compliance Orders for Retirement Homes), O.Reg 8/21 (Enforcement of COVID-19 Measures), O.Reg. 11/21 (Stay-at-Home Order), O.Reg. 13/21 (Residential Evictions).
• Enforcement of residential evictions will remain paused in the public health regions where the provincial Stay-at-Home order remains in effect.
• Local medical officers of health continue to have the ability to issue Section 22 orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, to target specific transmission risks in the community.
• Ontario has implemented a six-point plan to prevent and stop the spread of COVID-19 variants.
• To support the safe return of in-person learning, Ontario has introduced new measures to continue to protect students and staff against COVID-19 in the classroom.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Please visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse for the full list of public health region classifications.
• To find the right supports, visit COVID-19: Support for People, which has information about the many available and free mental health services and supports.
• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have been advised of exposure by your local public health unit or through the COVID Alert App. Visit Ontario.ca/covidtest to find the nearest testing location.
• Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine web page to view the latest provincial data and information on COVID-19 vaccines.

CONTACTS

Alexandra Hilkene
Minister Elliott’s Office
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David Jensen
Communications Division
416-314-6197
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Ministry of Health
http://ontario.ca/health