Midwestern

Stage 2 openings for the region includes a long list

Health units in Midwestern Ontario are part of Stage 2 re-openings across the province.

The regions covered by Huron Perth Public Health, the Grey Bruce Health Unit and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health will allow for the opening of more businesses Friday.

In a release from Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, she states the decision was made in consultation with the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health and local health officials.

“The statistics show that following the directions and guidelines of health officials, we can flatten the curve and move forward together,” Thompson said. “I am truly appreciative for the dedication of our frontline healthcare workers and I am sincerely impressed with how Huron-Bruce has handled this pandemic.”

The decisions are based on trends of key public health indicators such as lower rates of transmission, increased capacity in hospitals, and progress made in testing.

“I know Covid-19 has been a challenge for everyone,” said Thompson. "But we are doing this right and we are doing it safely.”

Effective Friday, June 12, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., the province will increase the limit on social gatherings from five to 10 people across the province, regardless of whether a region has moved to Stage 2.

Additionally, all places of worship in Ontario will also be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and attendance limited to no more than 30 per cent of the building capacity to ensure the safety of worshipers.

Businesses and services permitted to reopen with proper health and safety measures in place in regions entering Stage 2 include: · Outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other establishments, including patios, curbside, parking lots and adjacent properties; · Select personal and personal care services with the proper health and safety measures in place, including tattoo parlours, barber shops, hair salons and beauty salons; · Shopping malls under existing restrictions, including food services reopening for take-out and outdoor dining only; · Tour and guide services, such as bike and walking, bus and boat tours, as well as tasting and tours for wineries, breweries and distilleries; · Water recreational facilities such as outdoor splash pads and wading pools, and all swimming pools; · Beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks; · Camping at private campgrounds; · Outdoor-only recreational facilities and training for outdoor team sports, with limits to enable physical distancing; · Drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural appreciation, such as art installations; · Film and television production activities, with limits to enable physical distancing; and · Weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people

As more people return to work, the services they rely on will need to be available regardless of the stage a region is in. The province will soon release more details on: · Child care; · Summer camps; · Post-secondary education pilots to help people graduate; · Training centres; and · Public transit.

At the beginning of each week, the government will provide an update on the ongoing assessment of these regions, and whether they are ready to move into Stage 2 at the end of the week.

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