The Medical Officer of Health for Chatham-Kent has released a list of businesses and services allowed to reopen in Phase 3 of Ontario's reopening.
Dr. David Colby is allowing the following local operations to resume service as early as Friday at 12:01 a.m. as long as they have public health safety measures in place:
- Outdoor recreational facilities, including playgrounds and splash pads. Mayor Darrin Canniff later confirmed municipal splash pads will open next week.
- Indoor facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities, including gyms, yoga and dance studios and other fitness facilities
- Training for indoor team sports and individual high-contact sports
- Seated indoor dining at restaurants and bars but no buffets
- Personal services for the face (facials, facial piercings, eyebrow waxing, eyelash extensions etc.)
- Performing arts shows and cinemas with reduced capacity for physical distancing
- Casinos (slots and electronic gaming only; no table games) and charitable gaming halls and events, including horse racing
- Remaining workplaces may open, with remote work wherever possible
"Some municipal services and local businesses may choose not to reopen at this time, at their discretion," Dr. Colby said. "Businesses should only reopen if they have proper and responsible health and safety measures in place."
He added the limits for social gatherings have increased to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors, both with physical distancing measures. Social circles (the number of people you can have close contact with) remain at a maximum of 10 people.
CK Public Health said municipally operated pools and day camps remain closed until further notice.
Local public health officials are reminding the public going out into the community to maintain a distance of two metres or six feet from people outside of your social circle, wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with 70 per cent alcohol base as frequently as possible, and stay home if you’re not feeling well. Masks may be worn in indoor public spaces, but are not a substitute for physical distancing.
CK Public Health is thanking the community of Chatham-Kent for helping contain the spread of COVID-19 during Phase 2.
A full, detailed list, along with the additional local directives can be found by clicking here.
CK Public Health also reported on Tuesday afternoon that active cases of COVID-19 are down to nine after a person recovered.
Cascades Casino in Chatham will not be open on Friday. Casino officials are currently evaluating the Phase 3 announcement and how the capacity restrictions will impact potential re-openings and its ability to bring people back to work.
"We have developed extensive health and safety plans for each site, which also includes two metres physical distancing, rigorous cleaning measures and the mandatory use of masks for all individuals entering gaming sites," said Rob Mitchell, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited. "All our plans must be independently reviewed by a health and safety subject matter expert and submitted to the regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)."