Canada: Ontario to impose stay-at-home order in starting Jan. 14 due to COVID-19 activity

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Authorities in Ontario have issued a stay-at-home order due to increasing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections throughout the province. Under the directive, effective Jan. 14, all individuals must remain within their homes except to perform essential tasks, such as shopping for groceries or pharmacy products, accessing health services, engaging in exercise, or performing essential work. All businesses must require employees who are able to work from home to do so.

Additionally, the following tighter restrictions are in place provincewide:

Outdoor public and social gatherings are limited to a maximum of five people.
Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor establishments; the use of facemasks is recommended in outdoor settings when social distancing measures are not possible.
Nonessential retailers, including hardware stores, liquor stores, and businesses that offer delivery and curbside pickup services, must remain closed daily between 2000-0700. The limited hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food or to pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and delivery/carryout services at restaurants.
Schools in the Toronto, Windsor-Essex, Peel, York, and Hamilton regions will remain closed until at least Feb. 10. Childcare centers may remain open.

Other restrictions will remain unchanged. Indoor social gatherings are banned. 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.

Provincial and local police officers, bylaw officers, and workplace inspectors will be allowed to issue tickets to individuals and to temporarily close businesses that violate the restrictions.

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

Alberta: Restrictions on businesses and gatherings remain in place, including a ban on all indoor and outdoor social gatherings, the closure of all restaurants, bars, and similar establishments for sit-in dining, and the mandatory use of facemasks in indoor public spaces. Working from home is mandatory unless the physical presence of the employee is necessary for operations. Numerous nonessential businesses are required to remain closed, including entertainment and indoor recreational facilities and personal and wellness services. Retail stores and shopping malls may operate at 15-percent capacity only.

British Columbia: Until at least Feb. 5, social gatherings with people from outside one's household remain banned, as are indoor and outdoor events and music performances. Movie theaters are closed. 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: Individuals may not make visits to other residences. All indoor and outdoor gatherings in public places must be limited to five people. Retail businesses may only sell essential items in stores. Restaurants may only open for delivery and pickup services. Personal care services, gyms and fitness centers, recreational and entertainment establishments must close, and religious services remain suspended. 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, as well as 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. Gatherings within residences are banned, while outdoor gatherings with social distancing measures are allowed for up to 25 attendees. Restaurants, entertainment businesses, and gyms and fitness centers may operate with limited capacity. Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor public settings and at outdoor settings when social distancing is not possible.

Newfoundland and Labrador: Travelers entering from all other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Only certain essential workers and select asymptomatic permanent residents from the Labrador-Quebec border area are exempt. 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.

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. Gatherings at private residences must be limited to 10 people, including members of the host household. Businesses and organizations cannot hold events, including arts and cultural events, sports events, festivals, and wedding and funeral receptions. Faith gatherings and funeral or wedding ceremonies can allow up to 50-percent of the venue's capacity or 100 people indoors and up to 150 people outdoors. Restaurants and bars may serve patrons on-premises nightly until 2200 and must close by 2300; they may continue operating for delivery and pickup services. Retail stores and gyms and fitness centers can open at 50-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 at 50-percent capacity; personal care businesses may operate by appointment only. Dining and drinking establishments may operate with a maximum of 50 patrons; however, must close nightly by 2300 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.

Quebec: A nightly 2000-0500 curfew is in effect throughout the province until at least Feb. 8; there are few exceptions to the curfew, such as attending to health issues or transporting essential goods. Pharmacies and gas stations may remain open during curfew hours. Private gatherings are banned. Nonessential businesses remain closed. Essential businesses allowed to operate include banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, garages, and pet shops. Restaurants may only operate for delivery and pickup services. Most indoor recreational and sports activities, while outdoor activities are allowed provided they are performed individually or among members of the same household.

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 local authorities. Reconfirm all travel arrangements before departure. Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.