After being held back last week, Sarnia-Lambton has been given the green light to move into Stage 3 of pandemic reopening as of 12:01 a.m. Friday.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Monday afternoon. Durham Region, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton Region, Hamilton, Niagara and York are also advancing to Stage 3.
The province said the decision was made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and is based on positive local trends of key public health indicators, including lower or low transmission of COVID-19, ongoing hospital capacity, public health capacity to conduct rapid case and contact management, and a significant increase in testing.
"We're working with communities across the province to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help more businesses safely and responsibly hang up their 'Open for Business' sign," said Premier Ford.
"While we want as many people back to work and taking home a paycheque again as possible, it's important for everyone ― no matter what stage your community is in ― to remain on guard and keep following the public health advice. By working together, we can keep new case numbers down and ensure all of Ontario can enter Stage 3 when it's safe to do so."
Stage 3 includes indoor dining resuming at bars and restaurants, and allowing gyms, movie theatres and other entertainment venues to reopen.
Gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people indoors and a maximum of 100 people outdoors, with physical distancing in place.
These limits apply to all social gatherings and events, as well as some higher risk activities and venues. Gathering limits do not apply to settings such as beaches, parks, restaurants and bars, but measures to enable physical distancing may limit capacity at any given time.
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said residents still have to be cautious. "Lambton Public Health would like to remind residents Stage 3 will see increased activity in the community which more than ever requires everyone to be diligent," he said. "Following the public health safety measures must be considered at every opportunity."
Manager at Lambton Public Health Kevin Churchill said it's important for all service providers to have a safety plan that protects employees and members of the public. "Businesses and communities opening or expanding the services they can offer will continue to play an important role in the prevention of the community spread of COVID-19."
The province said the following activities are considered to be "high risk" and won't be allowed to reopen: amusement parks and water parks, buffet-style food services, dancing at restaurants and bars, other than by performers hired by the establishment following specific requirements, overnight stays at camps for children, private karaoke rooms, prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports, saunas, steam rooms, bath houses and oxygen bars, table games at casinos and gaming establishments.
In the meantime, Windsor-Essex, Peel, and Toronto will remain in Stage 2.
Ontario will continue to assess trends in the public health indicators to determine when these final public health unit regions can progress to Stage 3.
The Chief Medical Officer of Health and public health experts also continue to closely monitor the evolving situation to advise when public health restrictions can be further loosened or if they need to be tightened.
