Update: On March 5, 2021, Ontario announced that effective March 8, 2021:

• Toronto, Peel and North Bay Parry Sound District public health regions: will transition out of the shutdown and into the revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open (the "Framework"), with the Stay-at-Home order no longer in effect.
  
  • North Bay Parry Sound District: will returning to the Framework at the Red-Control level.
  • Toronto Public Health and Peel Public Health: will return to the Framework at the Grey-Lockdown level.
• The following seven public health regions will also be moving to the following levels in the Framework:
  
  • Red-Control
    • Peterborough Public Health;
    • Public Health Sudbury and Districts; and
    • Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.
  • Orange-Restrict
    • Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit; and
    • Timiskaming Health Unit.
  • Yellow-Protect
    • Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit; and
    • Renfrew County and District Health Unit.
• Emergency orders O.Reg 11/21 (Stay-at-Home Order), O.Reg.89/21 (Stay-at-Home Order Toronto Public Health), O.Reg. 76/21 (Stay-at-Home Order North Bay Parry Sound District), O.Reg. 73/21 (Stay-at-Home Order Peel Public Health) and O.Reg 13/21 (Residential Evictions) will expire and no longer be in effect;

Emergency orders O.Reg 8/21 (Enforcement of COVID-19 Measures) and O.Reg 55/21 (Compliance Orders for Retirement Homes) currently in force under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) will be extended to March 22, 2021.

On February 19, 2021, Ontario announced the following:

• Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions, and the North Bay-Parry Sound District:   The shutdown and the stay-at-home order and all existing public health and workplace safety measures will be maintained until at least March 8, 2021;

• York Region Public Health:  Effective February 22, 2021, it will transition out of the shutdown, no longer be subject to the Stay-at-Home order, and move back into the COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open at the Red-Control level.

• Lambton Public Health:  Effective February 22, 2021, it will move from the Orange-Restrict level to the Red-Control level.

After returning to the Framework, public health regions are required to stay in their level for at least two weeks.  The government will then assess the impact of public health safety measures to determine if the region should stay where it is or be moved to a different level.  Public health regions may be moved to a higher level within the two-week window, if necessary, based on the set indicators and thresholds outlined in the Framework. 

Finally, Ontario has introduced an "emergency brake" to allow the Chief Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the local medical officer of health, to immediately advise moving a region into Grey-Lockdown to interrupt transmission.

*  *  *

On February 8, 2021, Ontario issued a news release announcing that it would be moving to a regional approach regarding its COVID-19 response.  Most regions are maintaining the province’s shutdown, stay-at home order, and public health and workplace safety measures. When safe, the province will gradually transition each region from the shutdown to a revised and strengthened COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open (Framework).  Premier Doug Ford indicated that this approach is motivated by the impact COVID-19 has had on businesses and a need to allow them to safely reopen.

Status of Stay-at-home Orders

As public health trends are improving more quickly in some regions than others, the current stay-at-home order will be amended accordingly.  Except for the three regions listed immediately below that will no longer be subject to a stay-at home order on February 10, 2021, individual stay-at-home orders will be made applicable to each public health region.    

February 10, 2021

On February 10, 2021, the following regions will no longer be subject to the stay-at-home order, and they will be moving back to the Green-Prevent level of the Framework:

• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health;
• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health; and
• Renfrew County and District Health.

February 16, 2021

It is proposed that until February 16, 2021, the stay-at-home order will continue to apply to 28 public health regions. 

February 22, 2021

It proposed that until February 22, 2021, the stay-at-home order will continue to apply to:

• Toronto;
• Peel; and
• York.

Final decisions will be subject to a review of public health indicator trends. 

Introduction of an “Emergency Brake”

Because of the risk posed by the new variants, Ontario introduced an “emergency brake” to allow the Chief Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the local medical officer of health, to immediately move a public health unit region into Grey-Lockdown to interrupt transmission if:

• It experiences rapid acceleration in COVID-19 transmission; or
• Its health care system risks being overwhelmed.

Termination of Provincial Emergency

On February 9, 2021, the provincial emergency declared under s. 7.01 of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act ended. 

A Safer Approach in Retail 

The updated Framework will permit limited in-person shopping in Grey-Lockdown zones (in most settings, 25% of capacity), with public health and safety measures.  At other levels of the Framework, retail public health and safety measures will be strengthened.  When indoors in businesses, face coverings and physical distancing will be required, with limited exceptions. 

Organized Public Events or Gatherings

Where organized public events or gatherings are permitted, individuals in attendance will be required to wear a face covering when they are within two metres of another individual who is not part of their household, regardless of whether the event or gathering is indoors or outdoors.  All other requirements pertaining to events and gatherings will be maintained.