On July 20, 2020, the Ontario Government announced that almost all regions will proceed to Stage 3 of the province’s reopening plan on Friday, July 24, 2020. Specifically, the additional regions that will be proceeding to Stage 3 on Friday include Durham, York, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Lambton, and Haldimand-Norfolk. These follow the 24 regions that moved to Stage 3 on July 17, 2020.
Toronto, Peel, and Windsor-Essex will be the only three regions in the province remaining in Stage 2 as of July 24.
Stage 3 will allow almost all businesses and services, including indoor dine-in restaurants, gyms, and movie theatres, to reopen with strict health and safety measures in place. In addition, under Stage 3, limits on social gatherings will increase to 50 people in indoor spaces and 100 people in outdoor spaces, subject to physical distancing requirements. For more details about the businesses and activities allowed and continued restrictions under Stage 3, please see our recent article.
As many businesses and activities begin to resume under Stage 3, employers should ensure that their reopening and return to work plans are consistent with their enhanced health and safety obligations.
This blog is provided as an information service and summary of workplace legal issues. This information is not intended as legal advice.