The Ontario government has announced a ban on gatherings of more than five people in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. The province has issued a new emergency order that prohibits public events and social gatherings of more than five people effective immediately.
Exceptions include private households with more than five people, child care centres supporting front line health care workers, and funerals are limited to 10 people at a time.
Premier Doug Ford says to keep our communities safe we need to take extraordinary measures to ensure physical distancing.
Organized public events include weddings, social gatherings and communal services in places of worship. On March 17th, the province declared a state of emergency ordering all non-essential businesses, recreation facilities, libraries, schools, day cares, provincial parks, churches, and sit-in restaurants to close.
Quick Facts
- Everyone in Ontario should be practicing physical distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. Avoid close contact (within 2 metres) with people outside of your immediate families.
- On March 25, 2020, the federal government announced an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act that requires any person entering Canada by air, sea or land to self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they have symptoms of COVID-19. They should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days.
- Take everyday steps to reduce exposure to COVID-19 and protect your health: wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer; sneeze and cough into your sleeve; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; avoid contact with people who are sick; stay home if you are sick.
Additional Resources
- Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
- Ontario Enacts Declaration of Emergency to Protect the Public
- The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- For public inquiries, call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (toll-free in Ontario only).
