Ontario's New Colour Coded COVID-19 Response Framework
The Ontario government released a brand new, colour-coded COVID-19 framework document that outlines when both preventative and responsive measures should be lifted or introduced in different regions across the province.
The new document, titled the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework, categorizes public health unit regions into five levels based on their local COVID-19 situation: Green-Prevent, Yellow-Protect, Orange-Restrict, Red-Control, and Lockdown (which is a measure of last and urgent resort).
The province says the goal is to have every single region in the Green-Prevent level, and regions will be placed in different levels based on how many weekly cases there are per 100,000, the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive, the number of new infections caused by each positive case (also know as the "Rt" number), the hospital and ICU capacity, and the capacity for case and contact tracing.
Here is what you can expect for Restaurants and Bars:
Current Restrictions
• Limit operating hours; establishments must close at midnight
• Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Require patrons to be seated; 2m between tables
• Dancing, singing and performing music is permitted, with restrictions
• Karaoke permitted, with restrictions (including no private rooms)
• Require patron contact info (one per group)
• No buffet style service
• Face coverings except when eating or drinking
• Night clubs only permitted to operate as restaurant or bar
• Strip clubs are closed
Green (Prevent)
• Require patrons to be seated; 2m minimum between tables
• Dancing, singing and performing music is permitted, with restrictions
• Karaoke permitted, with restrictions (including no private rooms)
• Require patron contact info (one per group)
• No buffet style service
• Night clubs only permitted to operate as restaurant or bar
• Line-ups/patrons congregating outside venues managed by venue; 2m distance and face covering required
• Face coverings except when eating or drinking only
• Eye protection where patrons without face coverings are within two metresof workers
Yellow (Protect)
Measures from previous levels and:
• Limit operating hours, establishments must close at midnight
• Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• No consumption of liquor permitted between 12 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Require contact information for all seated patrons
• Limit of 6 people may be seated together
• Limit volume of music (e.g., to be no louder than the volume of a normal conversation)
• Safety plan available upon request
Orange (Restrict)
Measures from previous levels and:
• 50 person indoor capacity limit
• Limit operating hours, establishments close at 10 p.m.
• Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m
• No consumption of liquor between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m.
• Require screening of patrons (e.g., questionnaire)
• Limit of 4 people may be seated together
• Closure of strip clubs
Red (Control)
Measures from previous levels and:
• Indoor dining not permitted, outdoor dining, take out, drive through, and delivery permitted
• Limit of 6 people may be seated together
• No line-ups or patron congregations outside venues, unless they maintain 2m distance and wear a face covering
• Require patron contact info from all seated patrons
• Dancing, singing and the live performance of brass or wind instruments are prohibited
• 10 person indoor capacity limit
• Outdoor dining, take out, drive through, and delivery permitted
• Dancing, singing and the live performance of brass or wind instruments are prohibited
Lockdown
Return to modified Stage 1
The system goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, when restrictions previously placed on the hot spots of Peel Region and Ottawa will ease.
Restrictions imposed on Toronto - which shut down indoor restaurant dining and closed gyms and cinemas - will be extended until Nov. 14 at the request of the city’s mayor, after which it will be moved to the new system.
Please refer to the full document for additional details: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework