Monday, December 21, 2020

PSA: Markham remains in GREY- LOCKDOWN

MARKHAM, ON – December 21, 2020 – Today, the Government of Ontario announced a Province-wide Shutdown, effective on Saturday, December 26 at 12:01AM. Together with the rest of southern Ontario, Markham will remain in shutdown until Saturday, January 23, 2021.

The GREY-LOCKDOWN stage restrictions as set out in the Province’s Keeping Ontario Safe and Open COVID-19 response framework remain in effect for the City of Markham. However, the Province-wide Shutdown has added further restrictions that must also be observed.

Gathering limits for organized public events and social gatherings remain as follows:

Indoor: 0 (limit interactions to those in your household)
Outdoor: 10 people maximum (while keeping a safe distance)
Weddings, funerals, religious services: 10 people indoors or outdoors (while keeping a safe distance)

These gathering limits do not apply to members of a single household. An individual who lives alone may also gather exclusively with one other household. Individuals should limit travel to essential trips only.

No matter where you live in the Province, celebrate the holidays safely by celebrating in person with the people you live with only and celebrating virtually with everyone else.

Return to school changes in January:

All publicly funded and private elementary schools in York Region will be offering remote learning only the week of January 4, 2020. In-person learning will resume on January 11, 2020
All publicly funded and private secondary schools in York Region will be offering remote learning beginning the week of January 11, 2020. In-person learning will resume on January 25, 2020

The following activities and locations remain closed:

All indoor and outdoor dining, including patios. Take-out, drive-thru and delivery options remain available and are strongly encouraged to support local businesses
All indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms, subject to limited exceptions. Seasonal outdoor recreational facilities and amenities may remain open with some restrictions
Meeting and event spaces except for childcare, court services, government services and social services
All non-essential retail, except for curbside pick-up or delivery
- Discount and big box retailers selling groceries will be limited to 25 per cent capacity for in-store shopping
- Supermarkets, grocery stores and similar stores that primarily sell food, as well as pharmacies, will continue to operate at 50 per cent capacity for in-store shopping
- Convenience stores, hardware stores, safety supply stores, pharmacies, and stores that sell liquor, including beer, wine and spirits, are permitted to remain open
All hair salons, barber shops, nail salons and tattoo parlours

Enhanced long-term care home visitor restrictions will remain in effect. Retirement homes will be on high alert with visitor restrictions as outlined in the Retirement Homes COVID-19 Visitor Policy. In addition, long-term care homes must implement recently enhanced testing requirements.

City of Markham services continue to be impacted as follows:

Community centres, arenas, pools, the Markham Museum and the Varley Art Gallery will remain closed until further notice. Virtual and outdoor programs continue to be offered including skating at the outdoor Civic Centre Ice Rink
In-person fitness activities have been suspended until further notice, virtual fitness continues to be offered
Markham Public Library will continue to offer virtual services. Curbside pick up of holds and returns will be available at Markham Village, Thornhill Village and Unionville locations. Visit the Library’s website for hours and additional information
Markham Civic Centre will continue to operate by appointment only and all essential municipal services will continue to be offered
Markham Recycling Depots will remain open with COVID-19 health and safety measures in place. Visit the City website for hours of operation

The City of Markham understands the social, physical and mental health benefits of staying active and engaged. During the pandemic, the City will continue to provide fun, educational, creative, and active programs for all ages that are adapted to ensure the health and safety of participants at markham.ca/recreation.

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.

Residents are reminded to:

Avoid social gatherings and limit close contacts to your household or the people you live with
Keep a safe distance from anyone outside your household (2 metres/6 feet)
Wash your hands thoroughly and often
Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
Cough or sneeze into your sleeve
Wear a mask or face covering when inside public spaces or when physical distancing is a challenge
Clean high-touch surfaces often
If you feel sick, stay home
It is important to monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID-19 and seek assessment and testing if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you've been advised of exposure by your local public health unit or through the COVID Alert mobile app
Individuals and families from higher transmission regions should avoid travel to lower transmission regions, except for essential reasons
Download the COVID Alert mobile app

Visit markham.ca/CovidSafety to find out how else you can do your part to stop the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

For more information and updates about COVID-19 and affected City services, visit markham.ca/covid19.

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:
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 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.

Stay Connected: Visit our newsroom or search #MarkhamNews and #MarkhamEvents for the latest information on City programs, services and event.