The Renfrew County and District Health Unit has provided an update on the provincial shut down.
Since Renfrew County is considered part of Southern Ontario non-essential businesses will be shut down for 28-days before deciding to lift or further extend restrictions.
The provincewide shutdown measures include, but are not limited to:
- Restricting indoor organized public events and social gatherings, except with members of the same household (the people you live with). Individuals who live alone may consider having exclusive close contact with one other household.
- Prohibiting in-person shopping in most retail settings – curbside pickup and delivery can continue. Discount and big box retailers selling groceries will be limited to 25 per cent capacity for in-store shopping. Supermarkets, grocery stores and similar stores that primarily sell food, as well as pharmacies, will continue to operate at 50 per cent capacity for in-store shopping.
- Restricting indoor access to shopping malls – patrons may only go to a designated indoor pickup area (by appointment only), essential retail stores that are permitted to be open (e.g. pharmacy, grocery store), or, subject to physical distancing and face covering requirements, to the food court for takeout purchases. Shopping malls may also establish outdoor designated pickup areas.
- Prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining. Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments will be permitted to operate by take out, drive-through, and delivery only.
- As Renfrew County and District is considered part of Southern Ontario, elementary school students are planned to be able to return to in-person learning on January 11, 2021, and secondary school students can return to in-person learning January 25, 2021. During this period, child care centres, authorized recreational and skill building programs, and home-based child care services will remain open.
More information on the provincial restrictions can be found online here.
The local health unit adds it is imperative that everyone do their part to stay home if they are sick, avoid contact with people who are ill, practice physical distancing (2 metres), wear a mask/face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, wash hands, use the COVID Alert App, and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment tool or COVID-19 school and childcare screening tool daily if they go to work, school or daycare, to monitor for symptoms and proper guidance.
More details are available on the RCDHU’s website or by calling 613-732-3629 or 1-800-267-1097
