Norfolk County will not be moving onto Phase 3 with the rest of the Province.
This Friday, much of Ontario will be moving onto Phase 3 of re-opening the province which includes opening up all workplaces and easing restrictions on public gatherings.
With the easing of restrictions, indoor dining in bars and restaurants will be allowed, indoor gatherings of up to 50 people will be permitted and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed.
Large gatherings for events and concerts are still not allowed.
The following restrictions will remain in place:
- 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.
The hope is next week, Haldimand-Norfolk will be allowed to enter Phase 3 of re-opening – staying one week behind like we did moving into Phase 2.
This decision will be evaluated on Monday.
We were originally denied moving into Phase 2 with the rest of the province following a large COVID-19 outbreak at Scotlynn Group.
MPP Toby Barrett told us back then that it was the tipping point for the province to ensure the outbreak, which at the time had over 100 positive cases, was not being spread into the community.
The Health Unit has since declared the outbreak at Scotlynn is officially over.
Right now, there are only 16 active cases of COVID-19 in Haldimand-Norfolk.
The following public health unit regions will be allowed to move into Stage 3 first, on Friday, July 17, 2020:
- Algoma Public Health
- Brant County Health Unit
- Chatham-Kent Public Health
- Eastern Ontario Health Unit
- Grey Bruce Health Unit
- Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
- Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
- Huron Perth Public Health
- Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
- Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
- Middlesex-London Health Unit
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
- Northwestern Health Unit
- Ottawa Public Health
- Peterborough Public Health
- Porcupine Health Unit
- Public Health Sudbury & Districts
- Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit
- Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
- Southwestern Public Health
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit
- Timiskaming Health Unit
- Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health