Ontario Declares Another COVID-19 Emergency

In response to a doubling in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, the Ontario government in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts is immediately declaring a second provincial emergency for its 14 million residents.

The city of Toronto has reported the majority of Ontario's 5,021 fatalities related to COVID019.

Effective January 14, 2021, the Ontario government is issuing a stay-at-home Order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for permitted purposes or activities, such as going to the grocery store or for work where the work cannot be done remotely. This Order and other new and existing public health restrictions are aimed at limiting people's mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household.

In addition to limiting outings for these purposes, all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home.

The additional public health restrictions introduced on January 12, 2021, expand on the existing measures put in place on January 7th when the government extended the shutdown for Northern Ontario to at least January 23, 2021, to align with the rest of the province.

Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, said in a press statement, "We have made great strides in vaccinating tens of thousands of Ontarians, and we can't let these efforts go to waste. Urgent action is required to break this deadly trend of transmission, ensure people stay home, and save lives."

Furthermore, 'Get tested if you have symptoms compatible with COVID-19, or if you have been advised of exposure by your local public health unit or through the COVID Alert App. Visit Ontario.ca/covidtest to find the nearest testing location.'