A lockdown guide for Toronto residents during the second COVID-19 wave

Nov 26 2020, 6:10 pm

Toronto has been in its second lockdown since Monday, and there is still some confusion as to what exactly is allowed in the day-to-day.

Luckily, the City of Toronto has provided detailed guidelines for residents. The lockdown is in effect for at least 28 days, so it’s helpful to know the exact measures in place.

Some of the new restrictions include limiting retail stores to offer only curbside pick-up or delivery. Restaurants can only be open for pick-up, drive-thru, and delivery. No indoor gatherings will be allowed except with members of the same household, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people.

Grocery stores, liquor stores, and pharmacies remain open with limited capacity.

The City also points out that breaches of some of these directions will constitute offences under the provincial regulations.

There can be fines for breaking provincial orders like hosting private gatherings.

Food and Drink

Dos:

  • Order takeout, delivery or drive-thru from a restaurant or bar, including alcohol, where available

Don’ts:

  • Eat or drink – inside or outside – at a restaurant, bar, or any other establishment where food and drinks are sold

Shopping

Dos:

  • Go shopping alone or with another person only as necessary. Only shop for essential items once a week
  • Arrange for curbside pick-up or shop online at retailers
  • Shop in-person only at essential retailers such as pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, hardware stores, beer and liquor stores, big-box stores that sell groceries and outdoor markets
  • Visit malls only where essential businesses are open, such as grocery stores, medical offices and pharmacies, or to pick up goods from non-essential retailers at designated pick-up areas

Don’ts: 

  • Go shopping more than necessary or with a group
  • Shop in-person at non-essential retailers
  • Shop in-person in malls, except for essential services like pharmacies, grocery stores, and supermarkets (all other retailers are closed)

Public Spaces

Dos:

  • Use public places that can be open. Wear a mask and stay two metres apart from others

Don’ts: 

  • Take off your mask while inside a public place, including on the TTC, in a taxi, or in a vehicle-for-hire service

Work and School

Dos:

  • Stay home except for essential trips, such as work, school, or healthcare visits
  • Work from home whenever possible
  • Stay home if you are ill, even if symptoms are minor
  • Attend elementary and secondary school in-person or online, and attend post-secondary school online, except where in-person instruction is required

Don’ts:

  • Travel outside of your community, except for essential trips or emergencies
  • Forget to wear your mask, wash your hands, and keep your distance from co-workers when you are in the workplace
  • Go out if you are feeling unwell
  • Have get-togethers or playdates with school friends after school, either in your home or outside
  • Attend in-person tutoring or lessons

Visitors and Social Gatherings

Dos:

  • Allow an essential support worker in your home, as well as repair and cleaning people, if you need them
  • Restrict gatherings at your home to household members only. You may include one additional person from outside your household if you live alone
  • Go for a walk alone or with members of your household to get fresh air and exercise
  • Check on vulnerable family, friends, and neighbours

Don’ts:

  • Have visitors inside your home that are not required. Essential support workers and emergency repairpersons are permitted
  • Hold or attend indoor organized public events or social gatherings, except with members of your own household
  • Hold or attend outdoor organized public events or social gatherings of more than 10 people
  • Forget to ask those you know who are vulnerable if they need groceries or other necessities

Recreation

Dos: 

  • Make use of City park amenities, like playgrounds, fitness equipment and designated off-leash dog parks only with people you live with, and stay two metres away from people you don’t live with
  • Exercise in your home or outside

Don’ts: 

  • Play or practice team sports, meet or gather outside with more than 10 people while using amenities
  • Go to gyms, fitness centres, dance studios or community recreation centres (certain professional and high-performing athletes are exempt)

Services, Attractions, and Events

Dos:

  • Attend conferences and special events virtually
  • Attend mental health or substance-use supports virtually or at services in-person with a limit of 10 people
  • Attend religious services, weddings, funeral and religious rites virtually, or in-person with a maximum of 10 people (indoors and outdoors)
  • Go to a community centre for childcare, day camps, mental health or substance-use support services, social services and other community supports, such as to use a public washroom
  • Visit the Toronto Zoo through their virtual programming
  • Go to a drive-in cinema
  • Experience museums, art exhibits and other attractions online
  • Go to a library to pick up or drop off books, use computers, copy machines and washrooms or for childcare, day camps, mental health or substance-use support services, social services, where provided
  • Consider personal grooming alternatives you can do at home

Don’ts: 

  • Attend events or social gatherings at meeting and event spaces, including special event venues like banquet halls, hotel conference rooms, and convention centres unless for a purpose permitted by the provincial regulation
  • Hold or attend indoor receptions or other social gatherings associated with any religious service, wedding, funeral or rite, except with members of your own household or one other person if you live alone
  • Use a community centre except where allowed in the “Do” section
  • Visit Toronto Zoo, High Park Zoo, or Riverdale Farm in-person
  • Attend indoor cinemas or theatres
  • Go to museums, art exhibits, and other attractions in-person
  • Browse library collections in-person or book or use a meeting room other than for purposes that are permitted
  • Attend personal care services such as hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, or tanning studios and tattoo parlours

Household/Child Care

Dos:

  • Continue to use childcare centres and in-home childcare services
  • Continue to use domestic services such as housekeeping, cooking, nannies and babysitters

Don’ts:

  • Have children visit your home unless you are operating childcare services as defined by the Child Care and Early Years Act
  • Have anyone in your home other than those permitted under provincial regulations

City Services

Dos:

  • Pay property tax and utility bills on time online or by mail, and apply for building permits online
  • Access City services online at toronto.ca or through 311. Register online for public consultations or to make a public deputation at a City committee
  • Obtain a marriage licence – in-person by appointment only – at North York Civic Centre

Don’ts:

  • Attend a City facility. All City facilities and buildings are closed to the public
  • Try to get married at City Hall wedding chamber, as it is closed
Clarrie FeinsteinClarrie Feinstein

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