TORONTO — On Friday, the Ontario government announced Toronto and Peel Region will move into the grey zone of the province’s COVID-19 re-opening framework today, lifting the stay-at-home order and allowing some businesses to open their doors for the first time since last November.
While all retail stores will be allowed to re-open with stringent capacity limits, indoor and outdoor seating at restaurants and bars is still banned. Existing takeout, drive-through and delivery services will be allowed to continue.
Hotels, motels, lodges, resorts and student residences can remain open for business. However, pools, fitness centres, meeting rooms and other recreational amenities must be closed.
Short-term rental reservations booked on or before November 22 can be honoured. However, reservations after that date can only be for people in need of housing.
Toronto and Peel Region will stay in the grey lockdown level for at least two weeks and there will be continual re-assessments of the status.
North Bay Parry Sound District, which is also lifting its stay-at-home order, will join the framework in the red level. In addition, the government said seven other public-health regions will also be moving to different levels in the framework.
