New Measures – effective as of Tuesday, March 24th at 11:59 p.m. – to Further Protect the Health and Safety of the People of Ontario
News from the Office of the Ontario Premier
Posted March 23rd, 2020 on Niagara At Large
TORONTO — To further contain the spread of COVID-19, the Ontario Government will order the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces effective as of Tuesday, March 24th at 11:59 p.m.
This closure will be in effect for 14 days with the possibility of extending this order as the situation evolves. A full list of businesses that are permitted to stay open will be released tomorrow.
“This was a tough decision, but the right decision, as this is no time for half measures,” said Premier Doug Ford.
“But I have said from day one we will, and we must, take all steps necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. The health and safety of every Ontarian must come first. The health of you, your children, your grandparents and friends depends on all of us doing our part.”
Businesses that can continue operations with employees working remotely, or through other contingency measures, are being given approximately 36 hours to prepare and adapt. Essential services may continue their operations to maintain supply chains and ensure the people of Ontario have access to necessities, including groceries, medicines and other essential products.
A 1-800 number and website will be made available on Wednesday for any inquiries.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. David Williams
“Based on the advice of Dr. Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, and the experts at our Command Table, Ontario is taking further action to contain the spread of COVID-19,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “These enhanced measures are necessary to protect the health and well-being of Ontarians. Nothing is more important.”
“Our top priority must be to protect the health of the people of Ontario,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance. “Slowing the spread of COVID-19 will allow the people and the businesses of Ontario to move forward from this unprecedented situation.”
“Our government is listening to our public health officials to ensure we take the right actions to support the health and safety of Ontario job creators and workers,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
“We are working directly with businesses and workers across all sectors to support them in any way possible through this crisis. We urge the business community to share their innovative ideas and capabilities to fight COVID-19 through our new portal Ontario Together at www.ontario.ca/OntarioTogether.”
AN UPDATE TO THIS POST – The Ontario government has, as of late last night (March 24th) produced a list of commercial and workplace outlets that it considers ESSENTIAL and that will, at least for now, remain open under the above mandatory order.
The access this list, click on the following link – https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/list-of-essential-workplaces-2.html .
(From NAL – You will note as you scan through this list, that what is included as “essential” here is only referred to in a generic or general way, and not by specific store names, for example. So if you are wondering whether what the list describes as stores that sell hardware items for your home includes your local Canadian Tire outlet, you are going to have to go on line to a website for whatever store you are wondering about and see, or try giving them a phone call.)
Additional Resources
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
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