Canada: Provincial restrictions to remain in place through at least April due to COVID-19 /update 2

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Authorities in provinces and territories in Canada are maintaining multiple restrictions in place within their jurisdictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, as of March 9.

Ontario
As of March 9, all regions in Ontario have moved out of the stay-at-home orders and into the five-tier public health measures system. The Toronto and Peel regions, the latest ones out of the stay-at-home orders, as well as North Bay Parry Sound District and Thunder Bay District, are at the Grey or Lockdown Zone, the most restrictive of the five tiers, under which no indoor organized public event or social gathering is allowed, and outdoor gatherings with up to 10 people are allowed. Supermarkets can open at 50-percent capacity and other retail stores at 25-percent capacity. Most other businesses must remain closed, or working only for delivery and pickup services.

The remaining 30 regions are placed under the red, orange, yellow, or green zones, under which businesses are increasingly allowed to reopen with higher capacity limits.

Quebec
As of March 9, officials in Quebec have eased restrictions in several regions. 11 of the province's 18 regions are currently at Level 3-Alert of the province's plan: Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Bais-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale, Chaudiere-Appalaches, Cote-Nord, Estrie, Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Mauricie et Centre-du-Quebec, Nord-du-Quebec, Outaouais, and Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean. The following measures are in place for regions in Level 3:

A nightly curfew is in place between 2130-0500.
Religious activities are allowed for up to 100 people.
In-person services at restaurants may open for a maximum of two adults per table.
Most other businesses, including museums, libraries, cinemas, stores, and personal care businesses, can open with capacity limits.

The regions of Lanaudiere, Laurentides, Laval, Monteregie, and Montreal remain at Level 4-Maximum Alert, under which the following measures are in place:

A nightly curfew is in place between 2000-0500.
Indoor and outdoor private gatherings are banned, except for people leaving alone.
Events in public places are banned, except funerals with up to 25 people.
Places of worship may allow up to 10 people.
Restaurants and bars must remain closed for in-person services.
Auditorium and theaters must remain closed.
Museums, cinemas, stores and personal care businesses can open with limitations.

Nunavik and Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James are under special local measures. Provincewide, telework is mandatory whenever possible.

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

Alberta
The province is at Step 2 of its reopening plan, under which indoor social gatherings remain banned and outdoor social gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed. Travelers entering Alberta cannot stay in other people's households. Wedding ceremonies can allow 10 people, funerals up to 20 people, and places of worship up to 15-percent of their maximum capacity. Stores and malls may open at 25-percent capacity, and restaurants and bars may open with social distancing measures, with customers seated, and closing at 2300 nightly. One-on-one training sessions at fitness centers are permitted, but individual or group workouts remain banned. Health and personal care businesses may operate by appointment only. Most other businesses must remain closed. Working from home is mandatory unless the physical presence of the employee is necessary for operations. The use of facemasks is required in public spaces.

British Columbia
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. High-intensity group activities at gyms and fitness centers are banned, as are adult team sports. Retail stores may open with capacity limits. Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor public settings. Outdoor recreational activities are allowed. Individuals are encouraged to avoid all nonessential travel.

Manitoba
The entire province is under the same measures: allowing two designated people to visit other family's households, outdoor visits for up to 10 people, and funerals and weddings with up to 10 guests. Retail stores, malls, personal care businesses, and restaurants can operate at 50-percent capacity, while gyms, sporting facilities, museums, and libraries can open at 25-percent capacity. Indoor theaters, concert halls, and casinos must remain closed. Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor public spaces.

New Brunswick
The province is at the Yellow level of its reopening plan. 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 are exempt from the quarantine requirement. Gatherings with the same group of 15 people are allowed, as are outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people. All businesses are allowed to open, most at 50-percent capacity. Restaurants and bars may allow only seated customers. 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. In the Avalon peninsula, gatherings are banned except for people living alone, religious and cultural ceremonies are limited to five people, and most businesses must remain closed for in-person services. In the rest of the province, religious and cultural ceremonies can hold up to 10 people, retail stores and malls can open at 50-percent capacity, while most other businesses remain closed for in-person services. Facemasks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces.

Northwest Territories
Only residents and those traveling for essential reasons can enter the province. 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, Fort Smith, Norman Wells, or Fort Simpson. 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 entering from Prince Edward Island. 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, gyms, and fitness centers can open at 75-percent capacity. Protective facemasks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces. Organized events are banned in Hants and Lunenburg counties.

Nunavut
Nonresidents 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. Outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people are allowed, and most businesses are allowed to open at 50-percent capacity. Stricter restrictions remain in place in Arviat.

Prince Edward Island
Travelers entering from other regions of Canada for nonessential travel must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Until at least March 14, households can have up to six individuals to gather indoors or outdoors; organized events can have up to 50 participants, including concerts, weddings, funerals, and movie theaters. Gyms and retail stores can open at 50-percent capacity. Restaurants can allow up to 50 seated customers and must close nightly by 2200. The use of facemasks is mandatory in all indoor public spaces or outdoor public settings when social distancing is not possible.

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 and businesses 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 and retail stores can operate at 50-percent capacity.

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. Individuals must wear facemasks in public spaces.

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