Reopening Ontario: What You Need to Know About Stage 1

It’s been weeks since we had to do the unthinkable and put everything on hold.

Since then, we have all taken extraordinary steps to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 in the province.

Thanks to our collective efforts, we have started to see the trends in COVID-19 cases improve. While we waited for these numbers to come down, we worked quickly to lay the groundwork for getting more people back to work, when safe to do so – charting a path to a phased reopening, developing workplace safety guidelines, and consulting with businesses and workers.

On Thursday May 14th, we announced the details of the next stage, Stage 1, of the gradual and safe reopening of Ontario’s economy.

Businesses and activities included in Stage 1 are well-positioned to put the necessary safety measures in place and get more people back to work, without overburdening public transit and other services.

I know many business owners are looking for clarity on whether or not they can reopen, and how they can keep their staff and customers safe. That is why we have partnered with Ontario’s Health and Safety Associations to create more than 90 guidelines to help business owners during this transition.

Starting Tuesday, May 19th, the following businesses and activities will be allowed to reopen or resume.

Construction

All construction to resume and essential workplace limits lifted. This includes land surveyors.

Retail

In addition to retail operating online, or with curbside pickup and delivery, all retail can open under the following restrictions and guidelines:

• No indoor malls.
• Must have a street-front entrance (i.e., stores with dedicated street access/storefront).
• Open in-store by appointment and/or by limiting the number of people in the store at any one time. Retailers would need to restrict the number of customers per square metre — for example, one customer per 4 square metres (43 square feet) — to ensure physical distancing of 2 metres at all times.
• Only fitting rooms with doors would be used, not curtains, to facilitate disinfecting. Retailers would restrict use to every second fitting room at any one time to allow for cleaning after use and ensure physical distancing.

Vehicle dealerships and retailers

Vehicle dealerships and retailers, including:

• New and used car, truck, and motorcycle dealers
• Recreational vehicle (RV) dealers (e.g., campers, motor homes, trailers, travel trailers)
• Boat, watercraft and marine supply dealers
• Other vehicle dealers of motorized bicycles, golf carts, scooters, snowmobiles, ATVs, utility trailers, etc.

Media operations

Office-based media operations involving equipment that does not allow for remote working. For example:

• Sound recording, such as production, distribution, publishing, studios.
• Film and television post-production, film and television animation studios.
• Publishing, including periodical, book, directory, software and video games.
• Interactive digital media, such as computer systems design and related services (e.g., programming, video game design and development).
• Media activities that can be completed while working remotely have been encouraged to continue during the Restart phase.
• Filming or other on-site activities, especially those that require the gathering of workers, performers or others are not permitted to resume in Stage 1.

Community services

Libraries for pick-up or delivery

Outdoor recreational amenities

• Marinas can resume recreation services
• Pools will remain closed

Professional services related to research and development

Professional services related to conducting research and experimental development in physical, engineering and life sciences including electronics, computers, chemistry, oceanography, geology, mathematics, physics, environmental, medicine, health, biology, botany, biotechnology, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, pharmacy, veterinary and other allied subjects. For example:

• Agriculture, food research, horticulture or botany, entomological, forestry, livestock, veterinary research and development laboratories.
• Bacteriological, biotechnology, chemical, nanobiotechnology, pharmacy, genetics, genomics, computational biology, research and development laboratories.
• Computer and related hardware, electronic, telecommunication research and development services.
• Geology, oceanographic, pollution research and development, and astronomical observatories.
• Mathematics research and development.
• Industrial research and development laboratories.

Emissions inspection facilities

All emissions inspection facilities for heavy diesel commercial motor vehicles, including mobile inspection facilities.

Veterinary services

• Veterinary services can resume all services by appointment.
• Animal services
• Pet grooming services
• Pet sitting services
• Dog walking services
• Pet training services
• Training and provision of service animals
• Effective May 16, 2020, businesses that board animals (e.g., stables) may allow boarders to visit, care for, or ride their animal

Indoor and outdoor household services

• Private households could now employ workers on or about the premises in activities primarily concerned with the operation of the household such as:
• Domestic services: housekeepers, cooks, maids, butlers, personal affairs management, nanny services, babysitters, other domestic personnel, etc.
• Cleaning and maintenance service: house cleaning, indoor/outdoor painting, window cleaning, pool cleaning, general repairs.

Maintenance

General maintenance and repair services can resume, and are no longer limited to “strictly necessary” maintenance.

For a complete list, including organizations, professions, and activities that are allowed to reopen on May 19, 2020, please click here.

Please keep in mind businesses should only open if they are prepared. Take the time you need to re-open safely, so you can best protect the health and safety of your staff and customers.