In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Public Health Measures Table, and local medical officers of health and other health experts, the Ontario government is introducing additional targeted public health measures in the Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto public health unit regions. These modified Stage 2 restrictions will be for a minimum of 28 days and reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Effective Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., these targeted measures are being implemented in Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto as a result of their higher than average rates of transmission. Measures under a modified Stage 2 include:

  • Reducing limits for all social gatherings and organized public events to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained. The two limits may not be combined for an indoor-outdoor event;
  • Prohibiting indoor food and drink service in restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, including nightclubs and food court areas in malls;
  • Closing of:
    • Indoor gyms and fitness centres (i.e., exercise classes and weight and exercise rooms);
    • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments;
    • Indoor cinemas;
    • Performing arts centres and venues;
    • Spectator areas in racing venues;
    • Interactive exhibits or exhibits with high risk of personal contact in museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, etc.;
  • Prohibiting personal care services where face coverings must be removed for the service (e.g. makeup application, beard trimming);
  • Reducing the capacity limits for:
    • Tour and guide services to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors
    • Real estate open houses to 10 people indoors, where physical distancing can be maintained.
    • In-person teaching and instruction (e.g. cooking class) to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, with exemptions for schools, child care centres, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, private career colleges, the Ontario Police College, etc.
    • Meeting and event spaces to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, and
  • Limiting team sports to training sessions (no games or scrimmages).

Schools, child care centres, and places of worship will remain open in these communities and must continue to follow the public health measures in place. Before-school and after-school programs will also be exempt from these new restrictions.

UPDATED text from ontario.ca

Additional public health measures for Ottawa, Peel and Toronto

Ottawa, Peel and Toronto public health unit regions are in a modified Stage 2. We will reconsider whether these measures are still required in 28 days.

This means:

Closing high-contact locations

As of October 10, the following locations and activities must close:

  • indoor food and drink service in restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, including nightclubs and mall food courts
  • indoor gyms and fitness centres, including yoga studios and dance studios
  • casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
  • cinemas
  • performing arts centres and venues
  • spectator areas in racing venues
  • interactive exhibits or exhibits with high risk of personal contact in museums, galleries, zoos, science centres or landmarks
  • personal care services where face coverings must be removed for the service (for example, for facials or make-up)
  • team sports, except for training sessions (no games or scrimmage)

As of October 13, the following locations and activities must close:

  • conference and convention centres, except where there are courts

More info – full press release