Ontario to ease restrictions for Toronto, Peel Region on June 24

By John Chunn

Law360 Canada (June 22, 2020, 4:16 PM EDT) -- The Ontario government announced on June 22 that it is allowing more businesses and services to open and getting more people back to work by moving the City of Toronto and Peel Region into Stage 2 on June 24.

According to the government’s press release, this decision was made in consultation with the chief medical officer of health and the local medical officers of health. It is based on positive local trends of key public health indicators, including lower transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, public health capacity to do rapid case and contact management and a significant increase in testing.

“Today’s announcement is another sign that we continue to make steady progress,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We have been working hand-in-hand with our municipal partners and local public health units to safely and gradually reopen the province. We will do everything we can to get our final region, Windsor-Essex, into Stage 2 as soon as possible. That’s why we are ramping up testing and inspections on Ontario's farms to protect workers and keep our food supply chains strong and healthy."

Toronto Public Health and Peel Public Health will enter Stage 2 on June 24 at 12:01 a.m. They will join the 31 other public health regions that entered Stage 2 on June 12 and 19.

“Because of our collective efforts, we continue to make real and significant progress in stopping the spread of COVID-19,” said Christine Elliott, deputy premier and minister of health. “As a result, more regions have met the public health criteria to move into Stage 2 and reopen more services for the communities to enjoy. Just as importantly, these efforts to stop the spread have ensured that we aren't seeing spikes in cases in those regions that have been open for well over a week now.”

Windsor-Essex will remain in Stage 1 and the situation in the region will continue to be assessed on an ongoing basis. 

The chief medical officer of health and health experts will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation in all regions of the province to advise when public health restrictions can be gradually loosened or if they need to be tightened.

Although restrictions are being gradually relaxed in Stage 2, the government is strongly recommending that everyone in Ontario follow public health advice, including physical distancing, wearing a face covering if physical distancing is a challenge, washing hands frequently and thoroughly, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.