More local businesses and services will be able to reopen next week with COVID-19 safety measures in place, as the provincial Stay-at-Home Order comes to an end.
Effective at 12:01 am on Tuesday, February 16, the provincial government will move the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) region into the Orange COVID-19 colour category. Before the province-wide shutdown took effect in late December, the HKPRDHU region – Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes – had been in the Yellow level.
Even though more local businesses can reopen and small social gatherings are allowed under the Orange level, HKPRDHU’s Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill strongly urges caution.
“While our legal obligation to limit travel and gatherings will end when the Stay-at-Home Order is lifted, we still have a moral obligation to continue doing all we can to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Gemmill said. “I am pleading with people not to gather with others and to continue to stay home and only go out for essential reasons.”
While COVID-19 cases may be declining, the virus is still circulating in the area, he adds. New coronavirus variants that are more easily spread are also present locally and across Ontario, and these could also contribute to a sudden surge in COVID-19 infections.
“We may be open for business, but we can’t assume it’s business as usual,” Dr. Gemmill said. “Until more people are vaccinated and we can get COVID-19 under control, we must continue doing all we can to stop the spread. Otherwise, we will lose the momentum we’ve gained over the past six weeks of the shutdown.”
The HKPRDHU region’s move out of the provincial shutdown to the Orange COVID-19 level means:
Local restaurants/bars can reopen for in-person dining, while continuing to offer takeout, pick-up and delivery.
Worship services, weddings and funerals can resume with limitations.
Gyms and fitness clubs can again open their doors to members with limitations.
In-person shopping can resume at retail stores and malls.
Personal care services such as barbers, hairdressers, nail salons and tattoo studios can resume with restrictions. One is that services requiring the removal of face coverings cannot be offered.
Movie theatres and performing arts centres can reopen for performances, with limits in place.
All businesses and services that are reopening must follow COVID-19 restrictions. These include operating with reduced hours (in some cases), limiting the number of people inside at one time, ensuring physical distancing is maintained, and enhancing cleaning and disinfecting measures. Businesses must also screen customers for COVID-19, while ensuring they wear masks (unless exempt).
The move to Orange also means small social gatherings are once again allowed at private homes, backyards and parks between people from different households. Up to 10 people can gather indoors and up to 25 people outdoors. Masks must be worn, and people need to stay 2 metres apart from anyone who is outside of their household.
The Orange-Restrict level is midway in Ontario’s five-level COVID-19 Framework. Levels are based on rates of COVID-19 in an area. As well as Orange, there are also: Green-Prevent, Yellow-Protect, Red-Control and Grey-Lockdown. These public health measures can be adjusted, tightened, or loosened based on local COVID-19 trends and case counts. The colour code for each area is reviewed weekly by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
More information and resources on the Orange COVID-19 Category rules are available at the HKPRDHU website (www.hkpr.on.ca).
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
