With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continuing to grow every day, the Ontario government is issuing further restrictions and extending its state of emergency.
The province announced Monday evening that the state of emergency and all of its orders currently in effect will be extended from March 31 until April 13. The government first issued the declaration on March 17 when there were 180 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario. As of Monday, there are now 1,706 cases province-wide.
In addition to the declaration, the province has issued a new emergency order to close all outdoor recreational amenities -- such as sports field, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, beaches, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, park shelters, outdoor exercise equipment, condo parks and community gardens -- effective immediately. The order was made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, based on advice from the province's chief medical officer of health.
"I made a commitment to be open and upfront about what we need to do as a province to beat this virus," said Premier Doug Ford. "Based on the best medical advice available, we are taking further steps today to protect the health and safety of all Ontarians by closing outdoor recreational amenities, like sports fields and playgrounds, and extending our emergency orders to save lives. We all need to work together and do our part to stop COVID-19 by staying home, practising physical distancing, and avoiding social gatherings."
Green spaces in parks, trails, ravines and conservation areas that aren't already closed will remain open for walkthrough access, but everyone is expected to maintain a safe physical distance of at least two metres apart from others.
Monday's emergency orders come just two days after the Ford government banned gatherings of more than five people in an effort to quell the spread of COVID-19.