The Middlesex London Health Unit has amended its COVID-19 rules on organized public events and social gatherings in order to match updated provincial regulations.
Earlier this week, the Ontario government lifted capacity limits on organized, outdoor public events. This allows for Remembrance Day ceremonies, Santa Claus parades, festivals, and ski hills to resume operations. Face coverings are still required to be worn if physical distancing is not possible.
This step by the province means the Section 22 Order issued by local Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie in September is no longer needed.
Capacity limits for private social gatherings remain in place with indoor gatherings capped at 25 people and outdoors gatherings limited to 100 people. Organized public events held indoors can also still only have a maximum of 25 people.
"The Reopening Ontario Act still sets capacity limits for social events and indoor organized gatherings,” Dr. Alex Summers, the health unit's associate medical officer of health, said in a statement. “These limits continue to be important and will be enforced as we all aim to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.”
Although the spread of COVID-19 appears to have slowed in the region again, the health unit continues to recommend gatherings be held outdoors as much as possible. People are also advised to maintain two metres physical distance from those not in their household and to wear a mask, whether indoors or outdoors, when physical distancing is not possible.
Daily COVID-19 case increases in London and Middlesex County have largely been in the low-teens throughout the week, with no additional deaths reported since October 21.