“Enclosed Public Space” means indoor public spaces accessed by the public. These include but are not limited to:

1. Restaurants, cafés, cafeterias, banquet halls;
2. Retail establishments and shopping malls;
3. Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, or other places of worship;
4. Libraries, museums, art galleries, recreational facilities, bingo halls, community centres and halls, cinemas, theatres, concert venues, special event venues, convention centers, or other similar entertainment, cultural, or leisure facilities;
5. Sports facilities, sports clubs, gyms, yoga studios, dance studios, and stadiums;
6. Common areas of hotels, motels, or short-term rental premises such as lobbies, elevators, meeting rooms, rest rooms, laundry rooms, gyms, and kitchens;
7. Public and private transportation including municipal buses, taxis, and rideshare services;
8. Common areas of premises under the control of a regulated health professional under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 18, as amended, such as waiting rooms;
9. Common areas of hospitals and independent health facilities such as lobbies, food courts and retail establishments;
10. Spas, hair salons, barbers, nail salons, and other personal service settings that are subject to health and safety protocols provided by the Province of Ontario during the provincial emergency;
11. Municipal public spaces.

Please note that if your sector is listed above, but has not yet been given permission to reopen under the Provincial Reopening Framework for Stages 1, 2, or 3, you must continue to wait to reopen until the Province further eases restrictions for your sector. Additional health and safety guidance that relates to reopening is still in place, and the use of masks does not replace other guidance such as limiting the number of people in a store at one time, limits on group sizes, hand-washing and hand-hygiene practices, and cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. The mask mandate is an additional measure that will be required until further notice for all enclosed public spaces that are open to the public.

Additionally, if you are visiting a Retirement Home or Long Term Care Home, there is specific provincial guidance on visitor protocols. Please review the guidance by clicking here, and if you have questions or concerns, please contact our local Health Unit at 613-345-5685.

Read the press release from the Health Unit for additional information about this new mandate as well as their detailed FAQs on cloth face coverings and exclusions.

Posters for the public:

Reopening Checklist for Storefront Display - retail (fillable pdf)
New Hours of Operation (fillable pdf)
Masks Required in Enclosed Public Spaces - from the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit (posting this statement at all entrances to enclosed public spaces is required)

Posters for staff areas:

Proper hand washing & proper use of hand sanitizer
Handwashing Poster (Health Unit)
When to use soap and water/ hand sanitizer
Know the Symptoms of COVID-19

Proper use of PPE:

• Recommended Steps for Putting On and Take Off PPE
• When & How to Wear a Mask
• Steps to Take Off Gloves

Cleaning public areas & checklist

Posters for public areas:

Symptom Checklist
Hand sanitizing
Physical distancing/spacing & protect yourself and those around you
Attention Visitors
Safe Shopping poster
Safe Shopping - grocery stores poster
Safe office space poster
 

Suppliers

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Local Suppliers:
  • Hansler Smith Limited (masks, gloves, face shields, disinfectants, signs and floor decals, soap, dispensers, towels, cleaning supplies)
  • Sands (gloves, masks, disinfectants, spray bottles, wipes, wall mounted dispensers, hand sanitizer)
  • Levac Supply (masks, gloves, cleaning supplies, acrylic sheeting)
  • North Channel Supply (masks)
  • Pathcare Medical Inc 613-246-8060 (masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, hands-free dispensers, infrared thermometers) in stock locally and available now. Click the link to see photos and pricing.
  • Canarm (masks) email to order sharrington@canarm.ca (minimum order: 50 masks)
  • Ignite Printing - customizable fabric masks and face coverings (add your logo or other design details - able to accommodate small minimum orders)
• Non-local Suppliers:
  • Maxill (COVID express section) (disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, hand soap, gloves, masks, soap dispensers)

Cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, soap and dispensers:

• Local Suppliers:
  • Sands (gloves, masks, disinfectants, spray bottles, wipes, wall mounted dispensers, hand sanitizer)
  • Hansler Smith Limited (masks, gloves, face shields, disinfectants, signs and floor decals, soap, dispensers, towels, cleaning supplies)
  • Fastenal (wipes, towels, rags, cleaning supplies, cleaning products, dispensers and stands)
  • Levac Supply (masks, gloves, cleaning supplies, acrylic sheeting)
  • Top Office (cleaning supplies)
  • Kings Lock Craft Distillery (hand sanitizer: call 613-704-2529)
  • BUSL (hand sanitizer)
  • Pathcare Medical Inc 613-246-8060 (masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, hands-free dispensers, infrared thermometers) in stock locally and available now. Will deliver within Brockville and area. Click the link to see photos and pricing.
• Non-local Suppliers:
  • Grand & Toy (disinfectants, wipes, electronic cleaning supplies, soap dispensers)
  • Maxill (COVID express section) (disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, hand soap, gloves, masks, soap dispensers)

Protective Barriers:

• Plexiglass/clear barriers - local (while supplies last)
  • Brockville Home Hardware
  • Delux Auto Glass & Trim 613-342-7148
  • Ketchum Manufacturing - Good supply available. Call 613-342-8455 or email paull@ketchum.ca to order
  • Hansler Smith Ltd. 1-800-267-8150
  • Wiltse's Brockville Glass
  • Ketchum Manufacturing (custom) 
• Barriers (non-local)
  • STM displays Cost effective Hanging Sneeze Guard Kit ($15)
  • Centennial Glass
  • Regal Plastics
  • Shop Pop Displays

Signage, floor decals, and stickers (local):

• Hansler Smith Limited (in stock)
• Ketchum Manufacturing (in sock and custom)
• Ignite Printing (in stock and custom)
• D&D Promotions (custom)
• Henderson Printing (custom)
• Acme Signs & Graphics 613-213-3463

If you are a local business with items in stock beneficial to reopenings, please contact us with a few details on what you have in stock in order to be listed above.

Find more local suppliers on the list developed by the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville

Access the Province’s list of PPE Suppliers

Rapid Response Platform to access critical products

  
Physical Distancing:

• Practice physical distancing (staying 2 metres away from others) and allow anyone who can to work from home.
• Limit the number of people working in one space so that they can distance themselves from each other, and stagger start times and break times.
• Reposition workstations to increase physical distances.
• Install barriers and partitions.
• Reschedule unnecessary visits to the workplace.
• Schedule appointments and pick up times to limit the number of people in one place at the same time. Schedule a time buffer between appointments to limit potential contact.
• Reduce the number of people in your premises and monitor the number of people on site.

Hand Hygiene:

• Practice and encourage proper hand hygiene (regular hand washing and sanitizing)
• Have all employees and visitors wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, or an approved alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, before entering the workplace, after contact with others, or with surfaces others have touched. Be sure to keep an adequate supply of soap, paper towels, etc. on hand and ensure regular handwashing is occurring, especially before breaks and at shift changes. Provide staff with hand sanitizer for their use when receiving deliveries, interacting with the public, etc.
• Train staff and the public on proper hand hygiene techniques and display posters near hand washing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers: How to Wash Your Hands & How to Use Hand Sanitizer - (posters)
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve and wash your hands afterwards.
• Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Cleaning & Disinfecting:

• Keep surfaces and objects clean. Cleaning is the act of removing dirt and grime from surfaces, and may remove some germs and viruses, while disinfecting is the act of killing germs and viruses. Surfaces cannot be effectively disinfected if they are dirty.
• Have proper training for all employees on handling cleaners and disinfectants safely and have applicable Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available and bottles/containers properly labeled. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions when mixing cleaners or disinfectants.
• Train everyone on how to keep their work surfaces, devices, screens and equipment clean.
• Sanitize the workplace thoroughly and often. Increase frequency of cleaning surfaces and common areas, such as door handles, entryways, light switches, elevators, buttons, PIN pads, washrooms, and kitchens. Commonly touched areas should be cleaned at least once every 2 hours. (A local business provided the tip to use 'press and seal' on PIN pads which can be more easily cleaned and/or replaced without damaging the buttons)
• Remove loose items such as condiments, stir sticks, pens, straws, pamphlets, brochures, and other items that may be touched by multiple people.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting for Public Settings: Public Health Ontario Fact Sheet on Cleaning & Disinfecting
• Health Canada: List of disinfectants and hand sanitizers for use against COVID-19: Click here for the list of disinfectants & click here for the list of authorized hand sanitizers (updated daily, Monday to Friday)

Screening & Communication:

• Prevent contact with potentially infected people.
• Learn the symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
• Screen workers regularly for health issues and ensure that you or your coworkers stay home if you or they have symptoms or are in close contact with someone who has symptoms.
• Formalize your screening process and have all staff complete a screening checklist before entering the work site. Advise staff to stay home when sick and to visit the local assessment centre at the Brockville Memorial Centre. Stay home until the test results are known, and if the test for COVID-19 is positive, to follow public health advice and self-isolate for 14 days and symptoms have been resolved.
• Post signs for the public on the door advising them to stay home if they are sick or have any of the COVID-19 symptoms. Where possible, offer delivery or another modified service to those who are sick to encourage them to remain home.
• Utilize the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workplaces for any workers or essential visitors entering the work environment. 

Preparing the Workplace:

• Employers should consult with Joint Health and Safety Committees/Health and Safety Representatives in the workplace on measures to protect workers in the workplace.
• Look at ways that you might minimize risks of contact with customers, employees, and surfaces
• Increase the air flow and supply of fresh air in your workplace.
• Train everyone on possible COVID-19 transmission points in the workplace, what steps are being taken to protect them, and how they can protect themselves, including frequent hand washing or sanitizing, and not touching their face.
• Reposition workstations to increase physical distances.
• Install barriers and partitions.
• Look at traffic flow in your workspace for staff and the public. Utilize arrows to direct traffic in one direction. Where possible, designate a separate entrance and exit to limit congestion.
• Reschedule unnecessary visits to the workplace.
• Keep up to date on best practices. Consider regular times to check in with public health updates and retrain/revise practices as needed.
• Ensure adequate supply of soap, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and hand sanitizers.

  
Download the complete WSPS fact sheet

• Can you minimize or eliminate tasks that put you and others in danger? Can you adjust your workspace and tasks to limit the number of people that need to be in the same area at the same time?
• Can meetings with customers take place remotely over the computer or phone?
• Can payment transactions be made by etransfer, online, or phone? Cashless or tap payment are recommended if advance payment is not possible.
• Restrict the number of people in your building and limit the number of building entry and exit points if possible. If one entrance/exit area will cause congestion, consider having one door designated as entrance only, and one as exit only to help with traffic flow and physical distancing.
• Limit the number of people in a given area at any one time (for retail the province is restricting the number of customers per square meter to one customer per 4 square metres (43 square feet) to ensure physical distancing of 2 metres can be achieved at all times). Change the work layout, set floor markings to ensure physical distancing is being practiced. Use appointments and scheduled pickups to limit the number of people in one place.
• Put barriers in place between yourself and those you must interact with if possible.
• Improve fresh air intake/circulation by opening windows as much as possible.
• Increase the frequency of cleaning commonly touched surfaces (screens, keyboards, PIN pads, cash drawers, door handles, countertops, light switches etc.). Be sure to follow safe practices and use appropriate cleaning agents.
• Use good hand washing techniques and avoid touching your face. When that is not possible, a good hand sanitizer should be used frequently and between personal interactions if possible.
• Maintain curbside and delivery services as part of your normal business.

What should I do as an employer to ensure my employees are protected?

Click here to read the key questions you should be asking yourself as an employer to identify the steps that you need to take to make sure your employees feel comfortable returning to work. Your employees have the right to a safe work environment and can refuse to work in unsafe work conditions. It is your responsibility to put the measures in place that will limit possible transmission of the virus and make your workplace as safe as possible.

 

If the above recommendations are still not enough for your workplace, consider Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE is only effective if worn correctly. Read the Considerations for PPE. Ensure PPE training include the fit, use, care, putting on and taking off, maintenance, cleaning, storing and limitations of the PPE.

Provide a safe place for employees to remove and dispose of disposable PPE in designated waste receptacles. Have a hand washing station or hand sanitizer available at that site. If you require customers to wear PPE in your store, ensure waste receptacles are present in the parking lot or outside of your storefront for safe disposal.

As of July 7, 2020, all businesses and organizations that are open to the public are required to adopt a policy that mandates the use of face coverings/masks in all enclosed public spaces/settings. Please click here to review the Instructions on this order from the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

Some example of PPE that may be suited include:

• Gloves – The use of disposable gloves can help limit contact with surfaces, product etc. Be sure you have practices set up for suitable disposal and when gloves should be changed such as torn and or dirty. It’s also important, again, to ensure you consider other hazards that may be present in the workplace before introducing gloves – in some cases, gloves can be an ‘entanglement’ hazard and should not be worn. Steps to take off gloves
• Goggles or face shields – can help with barriers and separation too. They should be assigned to people and not shared and can be used regularly if kept clean. Ensure the goggle or face shield use does not result in workers touching their faces more often because of heat or discomfort.
• Masks: non-medical masks and face coverings may be appropriate for your workplace if physical distancing can not be achieved or maintained, or as an added precaution for customers entering your place of work to protect those around them.
  • Please note that as of July 7^th the Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark District Health Unit has mandated the use of face coverings/masks in all enclosed public spaces/settings. Learn the advantages and limitations of masks:
    • Mask use for non-healthcare workers
    • When and How to Wear a Mask
    • Use of masks and respirators during the COVID-19 outbreak
    • Use of non-medical masks and face coverings
    • How to put on, remove, and clean non-medical masks and face coverings

  

• Resources to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace (Province) & Sector-Based Guidance
• Detailed List of Stage 1 Openings & A Framework for Reopening our Province: Stage 1
• Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for Businesses and Workplaces (dedicated page) + Best Practices for COVID-19 Prevention Checklist for Stores
• Public Health Guidance for Business in Lanark, Leeds & Grenville
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Board (WSPS)
• Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA)
• Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA)
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – Pandemic (COVID-19) Tip Sheets
• Province of Ontario – COVID-19
• Public Health Ontario – Coronavirus Disease
• Government of Canada – COVID-19
• Click here to download the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) Pandemic Recovery Return-to-business checklist
• Guidelines for Business from the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Health Unit
• Retail Council of Canada: Retail Recovery Checklist and Templates (applicable to more than retail businesses) & the Recovery Playbook
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business: Templates, Poster, Customizable letters to employees and landlords, and more
• Canadian Business Resilience Network - Toolkit for Reopening Canada's Economy
• J.D. Irving COVID-19 Workplan (sample)

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A Framework for Reopening the Province of Ontario and Sector-Specific Guidance

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Stage 3 Openings - Starting Friday, July 17

Nearly All Businesses and Public Spaces to Reopen in Stage 3 (starting July 17, 2020 at 12:01 am) with public health and workplace safety measures and restrictions in place. Stage 3 will take a regional approach to opening most businesses, services, and all public spaces, with health and safety measures in place, and continuing to emphasize personal responsibility. 

As of Tuesday, July 7, 2020 face masks/coverings are required to be worn in all in all enclosed public spaces as mandated by our local health unit. This order will be in effect until further notice.

As part of the Stage 3 reopening, Ontario will be increasing gathering limits for those regions entering the next stage (which includes Leeds, Grenville and Lanark) to the following:

• Indoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people;
• Outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people;
• Gathering limits are subject to physical distancing requirements.
• Public gathering limits apply to indoor and outdoor events, such as community events or gatherings, concerts, live shows, festivals, conferences, sports and recreational fitness activities, fundraisers, fairs, festivals or open houses. A two metre distance must still be maintained at such events.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health, public health experts and other officials have advised the following, high-risk places and activities are not yet safe to open, even if a region has entered Stage 3, due to the likelihood of large crowds congregating, difficulties with physical distancing, or challenges maintaining the proper cleaning and sanitation required to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Amusement parks and water parks;
• Buffet-style food services;
• Dancing at restaurants and bars, other than by performers hired by the establishment following specific requirements;
• Overnight stays at camps for children;
• Private karaoke rooms;
• Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports;
• Saunas, steam rooms, bath houses and oxygen bars;
• Table games at casinos and gaming establishments.

All other businesses and public spaces will be permitted to be open, subject to ensuring the appropriate health and safety measures are in place, as well as limits on gathering sizes (see below).

Stage 3 Gathering Limits:

• Indoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people (September 19: unsupervised, private gatherings have been reduced to an indoor limit of 10)
• Outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people (September 19: unsupervised, private gatherings have been reduced to an outdoor limit of 25)
• Social circles continue to be kept at 10 people province-wide.(October update: social circles are no longer recommended)
• In all cases, individuals are required to continue to maintain physical distancing of at least two metres with people from outside their household.
• All businesses, services, and public spaces when hosting an event, are subject to indoor or outdoor gathering limits and ensuring physical distancing can be maintained.

Gathering limits apply to higher risk settings and activities where people congregate, including: 

• All organized or spontaneous indoor and outdoor events and social gatherings (e.g., parties, fundraisers, fairs, wedding receptions, funeral receptions)
• Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments
• Concerts and live shows, including performing arts
• Convention centres and other meeting or event spaces
• Facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g., gyms, fitness studios) 
• Festivals
• Recreational attractions, courses and instruction (e.g., fitness classes, music lessons, tutoring)
• Movie theatres
• Real estate open houses
• Sporting and racing events
• Tour and guide services (including boat tours) 

Indoor gathering limits apply to events that are fully or partially indoors. Indoor events and gatherings cannot be combined with an outdoor event or gathering to increase the applicable gathering size. 

Additional Restrictions:

• Convention Centres, Meeting and Event Spaces
  • Subject to physical distancing measures and gathering limits, which apply to the entire facility.
  • August 21, 2020 Update: Province increases the event capacity at convention centres, hotels, motels, and professional meeting facilities to up to 50/room if the facility has their plan approved by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
• Facilities for Sports and Recreational Fitness Activities (gyms, fitness studios, community centres):
  • Physical distancing must be maintained, except if playing a team sport or as needed for personal training.
  • The total number of people permitted in areas containing weights or exercise machines is limited to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing of at least two metres, which cannot exceed the indoor gathering limit of 50 people.
  • The total number of people permitted in classes or organized activities at any one time is limited to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing of at least two metres, and cannot exceed the indoor gathering limit of 50 people or the outdoor limit of 100
  • Assigned spaces are strongly recommended for organized fitness classes (use of floor markings is recommended)
  • Equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between users sets or at the end of a game.
  • Any washrooms, locker rooms, change rooms, showers or similar amenities made available to the public must be cleaned and disinfected frequently.
  • Steam rooms and saunas are not yet permitted to open.
• Interactive Exhibits at Museums, Attractions, and Heritage Institutions
  • In addition to the exhibits opened in Stage 2, high-contact surfaces such as interactive exhibits and displays may open. They must be cleaned and disinfected frequently.
  • All special events, instructional classes and performances at these locations are subject to gathering limits and physical distancing measures.
• Libraries:
  • In addition to the services resumes in Stage 2, libraries may reopen for all on-site services, as long as materials that are circulated, returned, or accessed within the library are disinfected or quarantined before being recirculated. Please check the Brockville Public Library's website for more information on their modified services.
• Live Shows, Performing Arts and Movie Theatres:
  • Audiences are subject to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing of at least two metres and cannot exceed gathering limites of 50 indoors and 100 outdoors. This applies to the entire facility, regardless of the number of theatres or performance stages within the facility.
  • Additional restrictions apply. Read the Stage 3 Framework document for details. 
• Personal Care Services:
  • In addition to the services permitted in Stage 2, all services that tend to a customer's face face are permitted (e.g., facials, ear piercing, eyebrow grooming, and eyelash extensions).
  • Patrons must wear face coverings except while receiving services for an area of their face that would otherwise be covered by a face covering.
  • Oxygen bars, bath houses, steam rooms, and saunas are not yet permitted to open.
• Recreational Courses and Instruction (music lessons, language classes, tutoring, art classes etc.)
  • All gathering limits apply
  • Physical distancing must be in place for participants, other than when necessary for instruction. Face coverings are recommended in those situations.
  • Equipment must be cleaned and disinfected frequently
  • Plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier and physical distancing are required for any instruction that involved singing or playing wind or brass instruments.
• Indoor Recreational Attractions and Businesses (e.g., arcade rooms, escape rooms, bowling alleys, pool halls):
  • Physical distancing of at least two metres must be in place
  • Equipment must be cleaned and disinfected frequently.
  • Private karaoke rooms cannot yet open.
• Restaurants, Bars, and Nightclubs:
  • All restaurants, bars, concession stands, and other food and drink establishments may open for indoor dine-in. Nightclubs are not yet safe to open, except for the purpose of serving food or drinks to patrons in accordance with the conditions that apply to restaurants and bars.
  • All patrons must be seated when eating or drinking at the establishment
  • Establishments must take appropriate measures to ensure physical distancing of at least two metres between patrons from different tables, unless separated by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier.
  • Buffet-style service is not yet permitted.
  • Singing or music may be performed by a person or group at the restaurant or bar, with restrictions, including barriers between the performers and patrons and physical distancing.
  • click here for additional health and safety related to restaurants and food services.
• Team Sports and Live Sporting Events:
  • Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports is not permitted.
  • Team sports in which body contact between players is either an integral component of the sport, or commonly occurs while engaged in the sport, are not yet permitted, unless the approach can be modified to prevent prolonged or deliberate physical contact
  • Amateur and recreational sports leagues may resume so long as they do not allow prolonged or deliberate physical contact between players or if they have modifications to avoid physical contact between players.
  • Leagues must contain no long than 50 participants total. If participants in a league exceed 50, the league may divide into smaller groups of no more than 50. Players are not yet permitted to play against players outside of their league or group.
  • Spectators at all sporting events, including professional sports, will be subject to gathering limits and physical distancing measures, with assigned seating where possible.
• Tour and Guide Services:
  • For tour and guide services, including boat tours, the number of patrons is subject to gathering limits.
  • Physical distancing of at least two metres must be maintained between all individuals, except for those from the same household or social circle.
  • The outdoor gathering limit of 100 applies if patrons will be outside for the duration of the tour, except to access washrooms, in transit to an outdoor area, or for health and safety reasons.
  • As with other gatherings and events, the indoor gathering limit of 50 applies if the gathering is fully or partially indoors.

Please click here to review the full Stage 3 Framework

Businesses and sectors unable to open or facing significant difficulties in operating under Stage 3 restrictions are invited to visit Ontario.ca/reopen to work with the province on a reopening plan.

Stage 2 Openings - as of Friday, June 12

More sectors of the economy may open as early as Friday, June 12, 2020. Working remotely should continue as much as possible, as well as continuing to follow all public health notices and recommendations. Non-essential, in-person gatherings of any size continue to be strongly discouraged. As of Tuesday, July 7, 2020 face masks/coverings are required to be worn in all in all enclosed public spaces as mandated by our local health unit. This order will be in effect until further notice.

• Public & Social Gatherings: social gathering limits expanded to up to 10 people. People must still practice physical distancing, by keeping at least 2 metres away from others outside of their direct household. 
• Places of Worship: may open under new provincial guidance including limiting attendance to 30% of building capacity and members practicing physical distancing. 
• Child care centres across the province will shift away from providing only emergency child care to enabling the gradual reopening of regular child care, with strict public health measures in place, including to limit operational capacity. Clear workplace safety guidance for child care and day camps (additionally click here for more guidance on operating summer day camps) is available to protect the health and safety of staff, children and their families. The Ontario government added on June 9^th that summer day camps (but not overnight camps) are permitted this summer, with additional health and safety measures in place.
• Personal Care services:
  • Hair services (including barber shops, hair salons, hairdressers/stylists, colour consulting services, hair weaving services, and hair replacement services)
  • Beauty salons, shops and parlours (including beauticians, estheticians, cosmetology shops or salons, manicure and pedicure salons)
  • Hair removal services
  • Diet centres (non-medical), diet workshops, weight control clinics, and weight-reduction centres (non-medical)
  • Piercing services
  • Day spas
  • Tanning salons
  • Tattoo studios
  • Restrictions include:
    • Prohibiting services that tend to a customer's face, such as facials, facial hair grooming, eyebrow grooming and makeup, as well as oxygen bars
    • Steam rooms, saunas, and bath houses must remain closed
    • Baths, hot tubs, floating pools and sensory deprivation pods are closed except for therapeutic purposes prescribed by or administered by a regulated health professional.
• Personal services: house sitting, party planning and consulting services, personal organizer services, personal physical fitness training and sports trainers (outside of gyms only), personal shopping services, porter services, show services, check room services (coat check, suitcase storage), wedding chapels.
• Restaurant patios: restaurants, bars, food trucks and other food and drink establishments (wineries, breweries, distilleries) can open for dining in outdoor areas only. Establishments must take appropriate measures to ensure physical distancing of at least 2m between patrons from different households as well as other workplace provincial guidance in place for restaurants.
  • Announced July 3: Province makes changes to allow outdoor dining areas to open if they have a roof, canopy, tent, awning or other covering. At least two full sides of the outdoor dining area must be open to the outdoors and must not be substantially blocked in any way. If the outdoor dining area has a retractable roof, the roof must be fully open and at least one full side must be open to the outdoors and not be substantially blocked in any way.
• Shopping Malls & Centres: In addition to providing online, curbside pickup and delivery services, all shopping centres, malls and markets may open. Stores in these facilities must follow the same guidance as those set out for other retail services
• Photography studios and services.
• Film & TV production.
• Tour & Guide Services: resource-based tours (ex. hunting, fishing, and similar excursions), tasting and tours of on-site retail stores at manufacturing sites (ex. wineries, breweries, and distilleries), trail riding, walking, and bike tours, motor vehicle and boat tours (sightseeing).
• Outdoor splash pads and wading pools, with restrictions.
• Outdoor-only, low-contact recreational facilities (ex. paintball, mini-golf, archery, go-carts)
• Ontario Parks campgrounds and private campgrounds can open for all types of camping (campers must adhere to social gathering size restrictions and maintain 2m physical-distancing with people outside of their household)
• Beach access at Ontario Parks.
• Outdoor team sport training may resume, if physically distanced, for training only (no scrimmages or games).
• Weddings, Funerals and Similar Gatherings while complying with limits for social gatherings of up to 10 people (indoor and outdoor venues).
• Libraries can increase their on-site services such as computer access (patrons are not permitted to handle books or materials on shelves). Please visit the Brockville Public Library's website to find out more information on what services they currently offer, including curbside pickup of library materials.
• Community Centres with limited or modified on-site programs and services.
• Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, outdoor heritage institutions, and other establishments primarily engaged in preserving and exhibiting objects, sites, and natural wonders of historical, cultural, and educational value are permitted to reopen with restrictions.

Stage 1 Openings - Starting Monday, May 19

• Retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate street-front entrances with measures in place that can enable physical distancing, such as limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time and booking appointments beforehand or on the spot. 
• Seasonal businesses and recreational activities for individual or single competitors, including training and sport competitions conducted by a recognized national or provincial sport organization. This includes indoor and outdoor non-team sport competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators, such as tennis, track and field and horse racing.
• Animal services, specifically pet care services, such as grooming and training, and regular veterinary appointments.
• Indoor and outdoor household services that can follow public health guidelines, such as housekeepers, cooks, cleaning and maintenance.
• Lifting essential workplace limits on construction.
• Allowing certain health and medical services to resume, such as in-person counselling and scheduled surgeries based on the ability to meet pre-specified conditions as outlined in A Measured Approach to Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as resuming professional services such as shifting Children's Treatment Centres from virtual to in-person.
• Vehicle dealerships and retailers.
• Media operations that are office-based involving equipment that does not allow for remote working
• Libraries may open for pick-up or delivery (The Brockville Public Library is currently offering curbside pick up, visit the library's website for details).
• Individual recreational sports at outdoor recreational sports centres (must operate without clubhouse or change rooms and only with washrooms and emergency aid).
• Veterinary Services can resume by appointment, and animal services such as pet grooming and dog walking may resume.
• Professional services related to research and development.
• Household services.
• General maintenance and repair services.
• Health Care Providers (Regulated Health Professionals or persons who operate a Group Practice of Regulated Health Professionals, as defined in section 77.7(6), paragraph 1 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act) - Directive #2 for Health Care Providers amended May 26, 2020: regulated health professionals may begin to a gradual restart of deferred services, which should be carried out in coordination with, and adherence to guidance from, your applicable health regulatory college, and by adhering to the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart. Regulatory colleges should provide additional guidance to their members regarding the gradual restart of services that are essential to be provided in person, and those that can be provided virtually (example: return to work guidance from the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario). 

For more details on the Stage 1 businesses listed above, including the changes to how those businesses must operate under the Provincial Guidelines, please review the Province's Detailed List of Stage 1 Openings. If you own a business in one of the categories that are being permitted to reopen, it is important that you do so safely and following all provincial health and safety guidelines, and do so ONLY IF you are able to put all of the necessary precautions in place. Continuing to offer curbside pick up, delivery, and cashless/touchless payment options as part of your regular operations is still advised. 

Additional Restrictions that have been lifted

• June 5 - Short term rentals including lodges, cabins, cottages, homes, condominiums and B&Bs allowed to resume operations. Please refer to the Provincial Guidance for the tourism and hospitality sector:
  • Health and Safety for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector during COVID-19
  • Hotel Reception, Room Service, and Front Line Staff during COVID-19
  • Guidance on Health and Safety for Housekeeping and Laundry Employees during COVID-19
    • Operators and guests should continue to practice physical distancing, wear a face covering when physical distancing is a challenge, and wash hands frequently.

Pre-Stage 1 Businesses Permitted to Reopen

As of Monday, May 4^th certain restrictions on businesses began to lift, contingent on them adapting to new health and safety practices the following businesses have been able to operate:

• May 4 - Garden Centres and nurseries 
• May 4 - Lawn care and landscaping 
• May 4 - Essential construction projects 
• May 4 - Automatic and self-serve car washes 
• May 4 - Auto dealerships - by appointment only
• May 4 - Golf Courses and Marinas could begin to prepare to open for the season
• May 8 - Garden centres and nurseries can allow in-store payment and purchases
• May 9 - Hardware Stores and Safety supply stores can allow in-store payment and purchases
• May 11 - Retail stores with a street entrance may provide curbside pickup and delivery
• May 14 - Golf courses may open, with clubhouses open only for washrooms, and restaurants open only for take-out
• May 14 - Marinas, boat clubs, and public boat launches may open for recreational use (The City of Brockville intends to open the marina on May 28 for seasonal boaters only)
• May 14 - Private parks and campgrounds may prepare to open and allow access for trailers and RVs for full-season contracts
• May 14 - Businesses that board animals may allow boarders to visit, care for, or ride their animal.

Please be advised that if you open your business before your sector has been given permission by the Premier to do so, you face a $750 fine.

List of Essential Businesses:

For more details, click here to visit the updated list of essential workplaces

Note that teleworking and online commerce are permitted at all times for all businesses.

Restaurants have been able to operate delivery and take-out throughout the pandemic.

For more details, click here to visit the updated list of essential workplaces.

Note that teleworking and online commerce are permitted at all times for all businesses.

Restaurants have been able to operate delivery and take-out throughout the pandemic.