As you may have heard earlier today, the Ontario government is permitting certain businesses in the Kingston area to re-open as of Friday, June 12th.

Specifically, public health unit regions with lower rates of transmission, increased capacity in hospitals, and progress made in testing can move to stage 2. 

Regions Permitted to Re-open in Kingston Area

• Eastern Ontario Health Unit
• Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
• Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
• Ottawa Public Health
• Peterborough Public Health
• Renfrew County and District Health Unit

Businesses Permitted to Re-open:

• outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other establishments, including patios, curbsides, parking lots and adjacent properties;
• personal and personal care services, including tattoo parlours, barber shops, hair salons and beauty salons;
• shopping malls under existing restrictions, including food services reopening for take-out and outdoor dining only;
• tour and guide services, such as bike and walking, bus and boat tours, as well as tasting and tours for wineries, breweries and distilleries;
• camping at private campgrounds;
• drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural appreciation, such as art installations;
• film and television production activities, with limits to enable physical distancing;
• weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people.

Safely Re-opening

When you re-open, the proper health and safety measures must be in place.  Remember that the government has released more than 100 sector-specific health and safety guidance documents at Ontario.ca/COVIDsafety to help employers keep their workplaces safe for employees and customers.  Employers are strongly advised to review these guidance documents and implement the recommended measures prior to re-opening.  There are also posters and tip sheets that can be printed and posted.  Under the emergency order relating to requirements for open businesses, the “person responsible for a place of business” must ensure that the business operates in accordance with all applicable laws, including health and safety laws, and can be personally subject to charges and fines if such laws are violated.

These re-openings will necessitate employees returning to workplaces, and the Ontario government has indicated that it will provide an update on the re-openings of childcare centres and summer camps in the near future.  There will also be an update pertaining to public transit.

In these same public health regions, and just in time for the nice weather, the following activities can resume:

• playing in outdoor splash pads and wading pools, and swimming in all swimming pools;
• beach access and additional camping at Ontario parks; and
• outdoor recreation and team sports.

All over Ontario, regardless of the health unit region, the limit on social gatherings will be increased from 5 to 10 people and all places of worship will be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and attendance limited to no more than 30% of the building capacity.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team with any questions on this matter.