COVID-19 public health actions

Mandatory restriction - Effective Sept. 16 and 20

Indoor entertainment, event and recreation facilities (Sept 20)

• Indoor facilities that do not implement the Restrictions Exemption Program must follow these restrictions:
  • Capacity limited to 1/3 fire code occupancy.
  • Attendees must be with household members only, or 2 close contacts if they live alone.

Outdoor entertainment, event and recreation facilities (Sept 16)

• Events and facilities that are fully outdoors (excluding washrooms), have no capacity restrictions but must maintain 2 metres distancing between households or 2 close contact for those living alone.

Mandatory restriction - Effective Sept. 20

The following restrictions apply to businesses that do not implement the Restrictions Exemption Program.

• Indoor dining is not permitted.
• Outdoor dining only with a maximum of 6 people per table (one household or 2 close contacts for those living alone)
• Liquor sales and consumption restrictions apply (sales end at 10pm, consumption by 11pm).

Mandatory restriction - Effective Sept. 20

Retail and shopping malls are not eligible for the Restrictions Exemption Program as public access is necessary for daily living. Therefore these restrictions apply:

• Capacity restricted to 1/3 fire code occupancy.
• Attendees must be with household members only, or 2 close contacts if they live alone.

Mandatory restriction - Effective Sept. 16 and 20

Adult (18-plus) sport, fitness and performance activities (Sept 20)

• The following restrictions apply unless the facility or program implements the Restrictions Exemption Program:
  • Indoor group classes and activities are not permitted.
  • Indoor competitions are paused except where vaccine exemptions have been granted.
  • Indoor one-on-one training and solo activities are allowed with 3 metre physical distancing.
  • Outdoor activities can continue with no restrictions.

Youth (under 18) sport, fitness and performance activities (Sept 16)

• Indoor group classes, training, and competitions are permitted, but participants are required to:
  • screen for symptoms
  • maintain 2 metres distancing, except youth while engaged in physical activity
  • wear a mask, except youth while engaged in physical activity
• Spectator attendance is restricted to 1/3 fire code capacity, attendees are limited to a single household or 2 close contact if living alone and must be masked and maintain 2 metres physical distancing.
• Outdoor activities can continue with no restrictions.

Day and overnight camps (Sept 16)

• Day camps required to maintain physical distancing between participants and masking indoors.
• Overnight camps must follow cohort models.

Mandatory measure - Effective Sept. 16

• Mandatory work-from-home measures are in place unless the employer has determined a physical presence is required for operational effectiveness.
• If employees are working on location, they must mask in all indoor settings, except while alone in work stations.

Mandatory restriction - Updated October 5

Indoor social gatherings

• Vaccinated: Indoor private social gatherings are limited to 2 households (yours plus one other) up to a maximum of 10 vaccine-eligible, vaccinated people and no restrictions on children under 12.
• Unvaccinated: Indoor social gatherings are not permitted for vaccine-eligible people who are unvaccinated.
• This restriction does not apply to mutual support groups, or to workers who need to access your home to provide caregiving support or home repairs and maintenance.

Outdoor social gatherings

• Outdoor private social gatherings limited to a maximum of 20 people, with 2 metre physical distancing between households at all times.

Mandatory restriction - Effective Sept. 16

• Capacity limited to 1/3 fire code occupancy.
• Masks are mandatory.
• 2 metres physical distancing between households, or 2 close contacts for those living alone.

Mandatory restriction - Effective Sept. 20

• Indoor wedding ceremonies and funeral services are permitted with up to 50 people or 50% of fire code occupancy, whichever is less, unless the hosting facility implements the Restrictions Exemption Program.
• Indoor wedding and funeral receptions are prohibited, unless the hosting facility implements the Restrictions Exemption Program.
• Outdoor ceremonies, services and receptions are permitted with up to 200 people and must follow liquor sales and consumption restrictions (sales end at 10pm, consumption by 11pm), unless the hosting facility implements the Restrictions Exemption Program.

Mandatory restriction – Effective Sept. 16

• Masking and 2 metres physical distancing are mandatory in all indoor public spaces, workplaces, and places of worship.
• Employees must mask in all indoor work settings, except while alone in work stations.
• The Restrictions Exemption Program does not apply to masking. Masks are still required in places that implement the program.

Learn more about mask requirements

Mandatory measure - Effective Sept. 16 

• Mandatory masking for students in Grades 4 and up, plus staff and teachers in all grades. Schools that implement an alternate COVID safety plan can be exempted from mandatory masking.
• Elementary schools to implement class cohorting.
• Indoor sports, fitness, recreation, and performance activities are permitted in schools, with requirements to maintain 2 metre physical distancing where possible.
  • Masks and distancing are not required by youth under 18 while engaged in physical activity.
  • Spectator attendance restricted to 1/3 fire code capacity and limited to households or 2 close contacts for those living alone. Attendees must be masked and distanced.

For more information, see K-12 learning during COVID-19

Mandatory measure – Effective Sept. 20

• Post-secondary institutions are not eligible for the Restrictions Exemption Program.
• However, post-secondaries can implement a proof of vaccination program for students to be eligible for an exemption that permits the following:
  • Students and staff do not have to maintain physical distancing in learning environments (where there is no access to persons not part of the program). Physical distancing is required in common spaces.
  • Cafeterias and dining halls can be open for staff and students to dine indoors, with no requirement to physically distance or sit only with members of your household or your 2 close contacts, and no limit on the number of people per table.
  • Note: other public health measures, such as mandatory masking in all public spaces and restrictions around adult physical and performance activities, continue to apply.
• All post-secondary proof of vaccine programs must ensure:
  • All student have been vaccinated with at least a first dose of a World Health Organization (WHO) approved COVID-19 vaccine no later than September 20, 2021, and be fully immunized with a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine no later than November 1, 2021.
    • Full immunization occurs 14 days after the second dose is received.
  • Students who remain unvaccinated or are vaccinated after these dates must be able to show:
    • proof of medical exemption from vaccination or
    • produce negative results from COVID-19 tests that are conducted regularly (for example, twice weekly) by the institution or a private test provider.
  • Note: Proof of vaccination is not required from staff and contractors.
• If a post-secondary institution decides not to implement a proof of vaccination program, it must follow all public health measures in Order 44-2021.
• Varsity sports teams at post-secondary institutions are considered to be semi-professional and may conduct group physical activity indoors and do not need to maintain distancing or wear face masks during play.
  • Physical distancing and masking are required before and after play (for example, in change rooms, washrooms, etc.)