On May 13, the Government of Ontario has extended the stay-at-home order until Wednesday, June 2.
Please stay safe and be #COVIDWise!
- Lawn Care
- Enhanced Stay-at-Home Order closes some outdoor recreation amenities
- Masks near playground equipment
- Park Ambassadors are back
- Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures
- Police Powers
- Provincial government is limiting capacity
- Provincial Restrictions at Interprovincial Crossing
- OPH Order for Fitness Centres
City of Ottawa update
Lawn Care
To clarify, bylaw has confirmed that landscaping work is permitted during lock down. They noted that pursuant to Sections 15 and 43.1 of Schedule 2 of the current provincial regulations for areas in the “Shutdown Zone” (O.Reg. 82/20), landscaping and lawn care services are permitted to operate.
Enhanced Stay-at-Home Order closes some outdoor recreation amenities
For compliance with the enhanced restrictions under the extended Province’s Stay-at-Home Order, the City of Ottawa has closed some of its recreation amenities, which include:
- Public sports fields – including those located at recreation facilities
- Ball diamonds
- Basketball, tennis and pickleball courts
- Skateboard parks
- BMX and other bike parks
The closures took effect at 12:01 on Saturday, April 17, 2021.
Masks required near playground equipment
Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches, has issued an Order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) to require wearing masks at or within five metres of playground equipment, which remain open under the Province’s enhanced Stay-at-Home restrictions. These include:
- Play structures
- Swings
- Slides
- Climbers
- Sand boxes
This masking requirement does not apply to an individual younger than two (2) years of age, or a child who is under five (5) years of age chronologically or developmentally, and who refuses to wear a mask and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver. The masking order takes effect at 12:01 on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Walking, running and cycling through parks is permitted
While most outdoor park amenities are closed, you are allowed to walk, run and cycle through parks. You must keep a two-metre distance from others in parks, unless they are members of your household.
Benches and off-leash dog parks can still be used as long as people maintain a two-metre distance.
Masks and children on playground structures
While By-law and Regulatory Services will exercise enforcement discretion, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) reminds parents and guardians to ensure that children on playground structures, swings and slides wear masks and maintain physical distancing. These regulations have been put in place to support current Provincial restrictions and help curtail the current surge of COVID-19 in our community.
The enhanced provincial restrictions also prohibit any outdoor social gathering with people outside your household. The only exception is for those who live alone, who may join only one household.
More information will be available upon further review of the Province of Ontario regulations.
Please stay home and help us bring down the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
Park Ambassadors are back
The City of Ottawa’s Park Ambassador Program is now back to give helpful guidance for your child’s play on the slides, swings and play structures.
Park Ambassadors are not enforcement officers and they do not hand out tickets. They are live, on-the-spot resources who offer valuable information, answers to your questions and help explain any confusion you might have about what’s permitted and what’s closed in our City parks.
The Park Ambassadors will walk in pairs around the park area in either their green shirts or red jackets that identify them as City of Ottawa staff. So, if you’re still uncertain at the park, be sure to ask your question to one of our Park Ambassadors.
For more information go to ottawa.ca/recreation
Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures
The provincial government is implementing the following public health and workplace safety measures:
- Prohibit all outdoor social gatherings and organized public events, except for with members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone or a caregiver for any member of the household;
- Close all non-essential workplaces in the construction sector;
- Reduce capacity limits to 25 per cent in all retail settings where in-store shopping is permitted. This includes supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers’ markets, other stores that primarily sell food and pharmacies; and,
- Close all outdoor recreational amenities, such as golf courses, basketball courts, soccer fields, and playgrounds with limited exceptions.
Limits to Capacity
Limiting the capacity to 10 people indoors or outdoors
- weddings
- funerals
- religious services, rites or ceremonies.
Social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions are prohibited, except for with members of the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone. Drive-in services will be permitted.
All other public health and workplace safety measures for non-essential retail under the provincewide emergency brake (i.e., curbside pick-up and delivery only), will continue to apply.
Provincial Restrictions at Interprovincial Crossing
Who should cross the interprovincial border
This is a reminder that the circumstances for which a person can travel into Ontario from Quebec, per the Ontario government directives, include:
- the person’s principal residence is in Ontario
- the person is travelling to perform work in Ontario
- the person is transporting goods into or through Ontario as part of the operation of a business that involves the transportation of goods
- the person is travelling into Ontario for the purpose of exercising an Aboriginal or treaty right
- the person’s health makes it necessary to travel into Ontario to obtain health care or social services
- the travel is necessary for a humanitarian or compassionate reason
No Extra documentation is required.
Beyond identification to operate a motor vehicle, there are no requirements for travellers to provide documentation to officers such as a note from an employer or physician. Individuals will be required to provide their name, address and reason for travelling.
Class Section 22 Order
Fitness Centres
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