Canada: Restrictions to remain in place through at least March due to COVID-19 /update 1

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Authorities in provinces and territories in Canada maintain multiple restrictions in place within their jurisdictions to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Officials in Quebec have issued new orders easing restrictions across the province, starting Feb. 8. The province consists of 16 regions, six of which (Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Cote-Nord, Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Nord-du-Quebec, and Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean) have eased restrictions, hence moving to Level 3 of the province's measures. The remaining 10 regions, including Montreal, Monteregie, Capitale-Nationale, Laurentides, and Lanaudiere, remain at Level 4.

Under the new orders, the following measures are in place for regions in Level 3:

• A curfew between 2130-0500, religious activities allowed for up to 25 people, in-person services at restaurants open for a maximum of two adults per table, cinemas and venues open with limitations starting Feb. 26, personal care businesses open with capacity limits.

For regions in Level 4 the following measures are in place:

• Personal care businesses, malls, museums can reopen, and outdoor activities with groups of up to four people are allowed. The nightly curfew will continue to be between 2000-0500, places of worships can have up to 10 people except for funerals which can have 25 people; in-person services in restaurants, as well as cinemas and event venues must remain closed.

Provincewide, gatherings at private homes are banned, except for one visitor to provide services, or to visit a person living alone. Activities in public places are also banned, bars must remain closed, and telework is mandatory whenever possible.

Ontario: Meanwhile, in Ontario, authorities will lift the stay-at-home orders Feb. 10 in three public health units: Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Unit; Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington Public Health Unit; and Renfrew County Public Health Unit. Those areas will move to the green level of restrictions, under which retail stores, personal care businesses, restaurants and gyms will be allowed to reopen.

In all other regions, except Toronto, Peel, and York regions, authorities will lift the stay-at-home order Feb. 16, if current COVID-19 trends continue, while the three most affected regions will remain under the stay-at-home orders until at least Feb. 22.

Provincewide, non-essential retail stores may reopen at 25-percent capacity, but must continue closing daily between 2000-0700; gatherings at residences remain banned, outdoor events and social gatherings for up to 10 people are allowed.

Other restrictions will remain unchanged (except in the regions at the green level):

• All individuals must remain within their homes except to perform essential tasks. All businesses must require employees who are able to work from home to do so.

• Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor establishments; the use of facemasks is recommended in outdoor settings when social distancing measures are not possible.

• Restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments may not offer on-premises dining.

• Malls, museums, amusement parks, personal care businesses, recreational facilities, entertainment venues, and gyms and fitness centers must remain closed.

• Nonessential travel is not encouraged, and travelers should self-quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Ontario.

Authorities in Canada's other provinces also have certain restrictions in force to prevent the spread of the virus.

Alberta: Indoor social gatherings remain banned; outdoor social gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed. Restaurants and bars can open for in-person dining, with a maximum of six people per table, and closing nightly by 2300. One-on-one training sessions at fitness centers are permitted, but individual or group workouts remain banned. Retail stores and shopping malls may operate at 15-percent capacity only. Health and personal care businesses may operate by appointment only. Working from home is mandatory unless the physical presence of the employee is necessary for operations. Numerous nonessential businesses must remain closed, including entertainment and indoor recreational facilities. The use of facemasks is required in public spaces.

British Columbia: Authorities extended existing restrictions until further notice. Social gatherings with people from outside one's household remain banned, as are indoor and outdoor events and music performances. People who live alone may gather with a maximum of two people. Restaurants and bars can operate with no more than six people per table. High-intensity group activities at gyms and fitness centers are banned, as are adult team sports. Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor public settings. Outdoor recreational activities are allowed. Individuals are encouraged to avoid all nonessential travel.

Manitoba: Officials have eased restrictions in Winnipeg, Southern Health - Sante Sud, Interlake-Eastern and Prairie Mountain Health regions, allowing two designated people to visit other family's household, outdoor visits of up to five people, and funerals with up to 10 guests; barbershops and hair salons may reopen at 25-percent capacity. In the entire province, gyms and fitness centers must remain closed, religious and cultural events banned or only virtually, restaurants closed for in-person services; recreational activities, sports facilities, museums, libraries, and movie theaters must also remain closed. Retail stores of any kind may open at 25-percent capacity or a maximum of 250 people. Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor public spaces. Travel to and from northern Manitoba is restricted, and nonessential travel to the province is discouraged.

New Brunswick: Travel into the province is only allowed for residents and those traveling for work, medical or compassionate reasons, or child custody. Residents, people moving into the province, and international travelers entering New Brunswick must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Frequent commuters, operators of commercial air, rail, marine, and truck transport, and residents of Campobello Island are exempt from the quarantine requirement. Starting Feb. 9, all regions within the province, except Edmundston, will be at the orange phase, under which gatherings with up to 10 people are allowed, and outdoor events of up to 50 people are allowed. Gyms, entertainment venues and restaurants may reopen with capacity limits. Edmundston will be at the red phase, under which private indoor gatherings are not allowed, except to provide care for an individual. Outdoor gatherings of up to 5 people are allowed. Gyms, personal care businesses, and entertainment venues are closed; restaurants can only work for delivery and takeout services. Masks are mandatory provincewide in indoor public spaces, and when social distancing measures are not possible outdoors.

Newfoundland and Labrador: Only residents and travelers from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, as well as essential workers, residents of St. Pierre and Miquelon requiring health care, or individuals approved by health authorities may enter the province. All those allowed to enter must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, except essential workers and permanent residents from the Labrador-Quebec border area. Private gatherings are limited to 20 people, and gatherings organized by recognized businesses or organizations are limited to 100 people, as long as social distancing measures are maintained. Retail stores, restaurants and bars, pools, personal care businesses, movie theaters and other entertainment businesses, gyms, and arenas can open with capacity limitations. Facemasks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces.

Northwest Territories: Travelers entering from other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival; individuals may complete self-quarantine only in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, or Fort Smith. Authorities have eased most business restrictions. Indoor events may allow up to 25 people, and outdoor events a maximum of 50 people.

Nova Scotia: Travelers entering from other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, except those from Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island; travel to those areas should be avoided. Businesses and organizations can hold events, including arts and cultural events, and sports events, for up to 100 people indoors or 150 people outdoors. Restaurants and bars, as well as event venues, may serve patrons on-premises nightly until 2200 and must close by 2300. Retail stores and gyms and fitness centers can open at 75-percent capacity. Protective facemasks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces.

Nunavut: Non-residents who wish to travel to the territory require permission from regional authorities. Otherwise, only travel from the town of Churchill, Manitoba, is allowed. Nunavut residents must quarantine for 14 days in Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, or Yellowknife before boarding a plane to enter the territory. In Whale Cove and Arviat, indoor gatherings of up to 10 people, and outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed. Restaurants may only operate for delivery and pickup services, and most other businesses may reopen. In the rest of the territory, similar restrictions apply, but indoor gatherings of up to 15 people are allowed, and restaurants may offer in-person dining at 50-percent capacity.

Prince Edward Island: Personal gatherings of more than 10 people and organized gatherings of more than 50 people (including religious ceremonies, cultural events, movies at cinemas, weddings) remain banned; event organizers may request permits to allow up to 150 people. Gyms and fitness centers, retail stores, libraries, and museums can open, with up to 50 people present; personal care businesses may operate by appointment only. Dining and drinking establishments may operate with a maximum of 50 patrons; however, they must close nightly by 0001 and not allow more than 10 people per table. The use of facemasks is mandatory in all indoor public spaces or outdoor public settings when social distancing is not possible. Travelers entering from other regions of Canada for nonessential travel must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

Saskatchewan: The use of facemasks is mandatory in all indoor public spaces. Private indoor gatherings must be limited to members of the household only; outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed. Indoor events at public venues must be limited to a maximum of 30 people. Team sports and group activities are banned. Casinos and bingo halls must close, and personal care businesses can operate at 50-percent capacity. Retail stores can operate at 50-percent.

Yukon: Travel is allowed from other provinces, but most travelers must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, except for essential workers and those entering from border areas from British Columbia. Most businesses are allowed to open. Private gatherings of up to 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors are allowed. Organized events can have up to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Heed the directives of the authorities. Reconfirm all health-related travel requirements before travel. Confirm appointments in advance.

Resources

WHO Coronavirus Knowledge Base
Canada - Coronavirus Updates
Canada - Travel Restrictions
Ontario - Coronavirus Updates
Quebec - Coronavirus Updates