Province of Ontario moves to Modified Step Two of reopening plan on January 5, 2022

MARKHAM, ON – January 4, 2022 – As of Wednesday, January 5 at 12:01 AM, the Province of Ontario will move to a Modified Step Two of the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act for at least 21 days, subject to public health and health system indicators. This decision is intended to protect hospital capacity and staffing levels as the highly transmissible Omicron variant spreads and as vaccine and booster delivery continue.

To protect your family and friends and to help slow the spread of COVID-19, please continue to follow public health advice including staying at home as much as possible, limiting close contact to those in your immediate household, masking, physical distancing, and handwashing. In addition, everyone eligible is encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible using one of the convenient options available.

Modified Step Two Provincial restrictions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Social gatherings and organized public events with social distancing and masks:
  • Indoor – maximum 5 people
  • Outdoor – maximum 10 people
• Businesses and organizations ensuring employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site
• Religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services:
  • Indoor – up to 50 per cent capacity of room capacity.
  • Outdoor – up to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distancing
  • Social gatherings associated with these services must adhere to the social gathering limits
• Dining:
  • Indoor – not permitted
  • Outdoor – with restrictions (maximum 10 people per table, remain seated, no dancing or singing, active screening, limited hours for the sale/consumption of liquor) is permitted
  • Takeout, drive through and delivery (including alcohol) is permitted
• Sports and recreational fitness facilities:
  • Indoor – closed except for athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics, select professional and elite amateur sport leagues, and therapy for persons with disabilities
  • Outdoor – open with spectators limited to 50 per cent capacity and other restrictions
• Indoor meeting and event spaces will be closed (with exceptions such as child care, court and government services, social and health services). Outdoor spaces will be permitted to operate with restrictions.
• Essential and non-essential retail, including shopping malls, permitted at 50 per cent capacity. Physical distancing will be required for shopping mall line-ups, loitering will not be permitted, food courts will be closed and active screening will be in place.
• Personal care services, where face coverings can be worn at all times, permitted at 50 per cent capacity and other restrictions. Saunas, steam rooms and oxygen bars will be closed.
• Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos, bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions and festivals will be closed. Outdoor establishments are permitted to open at 50 per cent capacity and with restrictions.
• Indoor concert venues, cinemas and theatres will be closed except for rehearsals or recording of performances for broadcast. Outdoor venues and boat tours permitted at 50 per cent capacity and with restrictions. Drive-ins and drive through events permitted with restrictions.
• Real estate property viewings by appointment only. Open houses are not permitted.

The City of Markham’s COVID-19 affected services will be as follows when the modified Step Two restrictions take effect January 5:

• Parks and trails, including off-leash dog parks, are open.
• Playgrounds and outdoor exercise equipment are available.
• Outdoor city ice rinks including the Markham Civic Centre ice rink remain available.
• Virtual library, recreation and fitness and culture programs continue to be offered.
• Outdoor Camp Chimo programs will continue.
• City-owned community centres, indoor tennis facilities, indoor soccer domes, indoor arenas, indoor pools, fitness centres, Markham Pan Am Centre, Markham Museum, Flato Markham Theatre and the Varley Art Gallery will be closed.
• Aaniin, Markham Village, Thornhill Village and Unionville branches of Markham Public Library will remain open at 50% capacity. All other library locations will be closed.
• Markham Recycling Depots are closed, textile recycling bins remain available.
• Markham Small Business Centre continues to offer virtual advice and assistance.
• City services continue to be offered to residents and businesses virtually and in-person (select services requiring in-person assistance require an appointment).

• Get active, safely 
• Shop local 
• Small business help 
• COVID-19 health and safety regulations for businesses 
• COVID-19 vaccination clinics 
• York Region Public Health 
• Sign up for eAlerts (City news & emergency alerts) 

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
At mayorscarpitti@markham.ca.

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: 
Visit markham.ca/covid19 or listen to 105.9 The Region – Markham’s information and emergency radio station.

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with more than 351,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 headquartered companies and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 234 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.
 

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