Friday, April 16, 2021

Ontario strengthens COVID-19 restrictions and enforcement starting at midnight

MARKHAM, ON – April 16, 2021 – Today, Ontario extended the current State of Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order ( O.Reg 265/21 ) to May 21, 2021 to help stop the spread of COVID-19 variants and to protect hospital ICU capacity while vaccinations continue. The Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework (colour-coded zones) continues to remain paused during this time.

Everyone is required to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely.

The following public health and workplace safety measures will go into effect at 12:01 AM on Saturday, April 17, 2021:

Gathering limits:
- Indoor: 0 (limit interactions to those in your household)
- Outdoor: 0 (limit interactions to those in your household. Individuals who live alone can join with one household)
Close all non-essential construction
Close golf courses, campgrounds, basketball courts, sports fields, tennis courts and skate parks
Further reduce capacity limits to 25 per cent in all retail settings where in-store shopping is permitted. This includes pharmacies, supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers’ markets and other stores that primarily sell food
Special authority to enforce public health measures for the duration of the Stay-at-Home order will come into effect under amendments to O.Reg 8/21 Enforcement of COVID-19 Measures. Police and bylaw officers will be able to require people to provide their home address and purpose for not remaining at home. Police officers, special constables and First Nation Constables will also have the authority to ask anyone outside their residence to indicate their purpose for leaving home and provide their address; that includes stopping vehicles and potentially issuing tickets up to $750.

Additional Measures effective at 12:01 AM on Monday, April 19, 2021 include:

Gathering limit for weddings, funerals and religious services: 10 people indoors or outdoors. Drive-in services will be permitted.
Check points at all inter-provincial borders to restrict travel. Exceptions will be made for work, health care services, transportation and delivery of goods and services, or exercising Aboriginal or treaty rights

All other public health and workplace safety measures for non-essential retail under the province-wide emergency brake (i.e., curbside pick-up and delivery only) will continue to apply.

The City of Markham’s COVID-19 services are affected as follows:

Outdoor, in-person recreation programs are cancelled
Library, recreation and fitness programs continue to be offered virtually
City-owned community centres, arenas, pools, fitness centres, the Markham Museum, the Flato Markham Theatre and the Varley Art Gallery will remain closed
The Varley Art Gallery continues to offer virtual school programs and will offer online exhibitions and related programs
Markham Public Library will continue to offer select online services
Markham Public Library curbside pick up of holds and returns will be available at Markham Village, Thornhill Village and Unionville locations
The City continues to provide critical services to residents and businesses virtually and in-person (services requiring in-person assistance require an appointment)
Markham Recycling Depots will remain open
All park facility washrooms remain closed

Businesses that are looking to better understand COVID-19 health and safety regulations can visit markham.ca/CovidEnforcement. We are here to help. All local restaurants, retailers and artisans are encouraged to join Destination Markham’s online business listing at visitmarkham.ca, where they can be found quickly by a community eager to support local. Finance, tax and legal workshops, as well as pre-recorded webinars, continue to be available via the Markham Small Business Centre during these challenging times.

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19 while waiting for your vaccine, please continue to follow public health recommendations. As we navigate the pandemic together, the City of Markham continues to monitor and follow advice from public health officials at the federal, provincial and regional levels.

It is critically important that we each continue to do our part to keep one another safe. It is not the time to let your guard down. Every action counts.

Visit markham.ca/covid19 for more information.

Related links:

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
Bryan Frois, Chief of Staff at bfrois@markham.ca or 416.567.1177.

All other media inquiries / interview requests for the City of Markham:
Jennifer Yap, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations at jyap@markham.ca or 437.229.2450.

For COVID-19 announcements from the City of Markham:
Listen to 105.9 The Region – Markham’s information and emergency radio station.

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 355,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 240 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Markham has received the Excellence Canada Gold Award for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace, and multiple heritage and environmental awards.

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