On June 22, 2020, Premier Doug Ford announced that, as of Wednesday, June 24, the City of Toronto and Peel Region will be able to proceed to Stage 2 of the province’s reopening plan.
Toronto Mayor John Tory announced that the City of Toronto is prepared to oversee the safe reopening of permitted businesses under Stage 2, but emphasized the need to continue following public health guidelines, including physical distancing and wearing personal protective equipment (“PPE”) where necessary.
As of Wednesday, Windsor-Essex will be the only region in the province remaining in Stage 1. This is primarily attributed to the recent outbreaks of COVID-19 on farms in the region, particularly among temporary foreign workers. The provincial government has announced that it is taking additional steps to help address the outbreaks, particularly by facilitating onsite testing on farms through mobile testing sites and encouraging farmers to allow workers to get tested.
Stage 2 will allow the reopening of restaurant patios, indoor shopping malls, salons, and many other businesses and services under strict health and safety measures. For more details on what businesses and activities are permitted under Stage 2, please see our recent article.
This blog is provided as an information service and summary of workplace legal issues. This information is not intended as legal advice.