Sarnia-Lambton will be rated at the orange "restrict" level in Ontario's COVID-19 Response Framework as of Tuesday.
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government is transitioning 27 public health regions out of the shutdown next week into what it says is a revised and strengthened framework.
"The health and safety of Ontarians remains our number one priority," said Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott. "While we are cautiously and gradually transitioning some regions out of shutdown, with the risk of new variants this is not a reopening or a return to normal. Until vaccines are widely available, it remains critical that all individuals and families continue to adhere to public health measures and stay home as much as possible to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities."
The orange level limits gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, restaurants are limited to 50 people seated indoors with a limit of four people per table. Barriers must be installed between tables if patrons can't be seated at least two metres apart. Establishments must be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and liquor can only be sold or served between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Religious services or ceremonies, including weddings and funerals, are limited to 30 per cent capacity of the room indoors, and 100 people outdoors. Oxygen bars, steam rooms, saunas, bath houses and other adult venues are closed and services requiring the removal of face coverings are prohibited. Table games at casinos remain prohibited, but a maximum of 50 people are allowed in the facility where physical distancing can be maintained.
Full details of the public health and workplace safety measures for each zone under the colour-coded response framework can be found here.
Before the holiday break and subsequent lockdown, Sarnia-Lambton was at the yellow "protect" level.
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said at the time, that part of the reason for being elevated to yellow from green was that Sarnia-Lambton's case count had reached 12.2 per 100,000 population during the week of November 15-21. During the week of January 31 to February 6, the local incidence rate per 100,000 was 28.
Neighbouring London-Middlesex, Windsor-Essex, and Chatham-Kent will all be under the red "control" level as of Tuesday. Huron is orange like Lambton.
-With files from Josh Boyce and Dave Dentinger