![]() Prior to the provincial order, Toronto and Peel Region had been under these lockdown rules for several weeks already, with non-essential stores, services and malls shuttered since November. With Ontario continuing to see record infection rates, it’s unclear whether this lockdown period will be extended further, particularly in areas with a high concentration of infection rates throughout the Golden Horseshoe region. When the government announced new province-wide lockdown measures in late December aimed at curbing the rapid increase in new COVID-19 cases, the protocols once again called for a closure of all non-essential retail stores for a period of one month, from December 26th (typically one of the busiest and most profitable shopping days of the year) to at least January 23rd, 2021. When lockdown restrictions eased, retailers and other non-essential businesses were able to resume business as usual, however, with many Canadians experiencing financial insecurity due to the pandemic, it’s safe to say that retailers continued to be hard hit financially throughout 2020. The federal government implemented a new subsidy program intended to assist business owners experiencing a reduction in profits with employee wages during the pandemic, called the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. This resulted in significant losses for many businesses, causing layoffs and closures across the province. At the time, this included most retail stores, some of which continued limited operations by offering curbside pickup, while others were forced to close entirely. It was available for anyone living in a retirement home, long-term care home, elder care lodge, and seniors living in other congregate settings (including senior’s apartment buildings) can get a third dose if it has been at least five months since their second dose.As the pandemic numbers began to increase in March 2020, the Ontario government reacted by closing or pausing many services and businesses that were deemed ‘non-essential’. Heading into late summer Ontario introduced the vaccine passport or proof of vaccination on September 22, 2021, that was needed to enter into a number of non-essential businesses.Ī month later as most people in the region were vaccinated the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was rolling out for a second time. In August, the first rollout of the third dose was made available to those considered the most at-risk of contracting COVID-19, such as those who are immunosuppressed, transplant recipients, and those living in long-term care homes. Ontario entered into step three of the provinces Roadman to Reopen plan on July 16, 2021, which saw additional indoor services reopen with larger numbers of people while having restrictions in place. Life was good in Ontario on the COVID-19 front in July as case numbers were going down while vaccination numbers were going up. Nothing is more important right now than the health and safety of all Ontarians." Williams and other health experts, we are taking the difficult but necessary decision to shut down the province and ask people to stay home. "We need to stop the spread of this deadly virus. "The number of daily cases continues to rise to put our hospitals and long-term care homes at risk," said Premier Ford. I think in general things have gone well despite all the challenges,” added Young Hoon.Įven before the champagne was popped for 2021, Ontario was dealing with record-breaking daily COVID cases, which led Premier Doug Ford, and the Ontario government to issue a province-wide lockdown the day after Christmas in 2020. ![]() As a health unit, we’ve performed very well, we’ve gone above and beyond. “I feel very lucky to work at the NWHU, the staff has been amazing, they’ve stepped up, they’ve learned new skills, learned new knowledge areas, they’ve handled very difficult situations. ![]()
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