Canada: Several provinces and territories tighten COVID-19 restrictions as of April 1 /update 4

Event

Authorities in several provinces and territories across Canada have amended certain restrictions within their jurisdictions as of April 1 to curb the spread of COVID-19. While controls across most of the country remain largely unchanged, restrictions in in British Columbia, Ontario, and parts of Quebec have been tightened by comparison with those in place during early March.

Alberta
The province is at Step 2 of its reopening plan, under which indoor social gatherings remain banned while outdoor social gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed. Travelers entering Alberta are prohibited from staying at the homes of others. 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 operate at 25 percent capacity. Restaurants and bars may operate with social distancing measures in place and customers being seated; such establishments must close at 23:00 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
Authorities have imposed stricter measures through at least April 19. Indoor dining at restaurants and bars is banned; indoor religious gatherings and worship services are cancelled, and indoor group exercises are prohibited. Indoor social gatherings are banned, while outdoor social gatherings can have up to 10 attendees. Cultural events and businesses must close, and team sports for individuals over 22 are not allowed. Facemasks are required for individuals 12 years of age and older in indoor public settings. Individuals are encouraged to avoid all nonessential travel.

Manitoba
Through at least April 15, only two persons may visit the private home of another, and only if all people living in the residence agree to allow the visitors. Gatherings in outdoor public spaces, as well as weddings and funeral ceremonies, may have up to 25 attendees. 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 cinemas must remain closed. Travelers entering Manitoba must self-quarantine for 14 days and are urged to take two COVID-19 tests - one upon arrival and the second on the tenth day of their quarantine. Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor public spaces.

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 are exempt from the quarantine requirement. In most of the province, except Zone 4, all businesses are allowed to open, albeit most at 50-percent capacity. Restaurants and bars must require that patrons be seated. Gatherings of up to 15 people are allowed. In Zone 4, which includes Edmundston and nearby areas, gatherings indoors are banned, and outdoors are allowed with up to five people; most nonessential businesses are closed, and restaurants may only operate for take-out and delivery services. Masks are mandatory provincewide in indoor public spaces, as well as under circumstances where 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 Saint 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. Provincewide, social gatherings with up to 20 people are allowed; organized gatherings or events may hold up to 50 people. Most businesses can operate, albeit with some capacity limits. 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. Individuals may invite up to five people to their home.

Nova Scotia
Travelers entering from other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, except those entering from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Businesses and organizations can hold events, including arts and cultural events, and sports events, for up to 100 people indoors or 150 people outdoors. Private households may host gatherings of no more than 10 people. Restaurants and bars, as well as event venues, may serve patrons on-premises nightly until 23:00 and must close by 23:59. Retail stores, gyms, and fitness centers can open at 75-percent capacity. Protective facemasks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces.

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. In Arviat, outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people are allowed.

Ontario
Starting April 3, emergency measures will be imposed provincewide for at least four weeks due to recent increases in COVID-19 infections. Under the new orders, indoor public events or social gatherings are banned and outdoor gatherings must be limited to a maximum of five people. Grocery stores and supermarkets may open at 50-percent capacity; big box stores may operate at 25-percent capacity. Gyms, personal care businesses, and in-person services at bars and restaurants must close. Weddings, funerals, and religious services are limited to 15-percent capacity of the venue. Individuals are advised to remain at home except to perform essential tasks.

Prince Edward Island
Nonresidents need to request approval to travel into the region. If they are approved, they must quarantine 14 days upon arrival. Residents returning do not need preapproval but must also quarantine for 14 days. Until at least mid-April, each household may establish a social bubble of 10 specific persons from other households with whom they may meet, but may not attend gatherings with any other persons. Organized gatherings may have up to 50 people, or 200 if they have approval from authorities. Most businesses are allowed to open with certain restrictions. Restaurants may open, but may seat no more than 10 persons per table and must close no later than 23:59 each night.

Quebec
Starting April 1, nine of Quebec's 18 regions will be at Level 4-Maximum Alert, including Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale, Chaudiere-Appalaches, Lanaudiere, Laurentides, Laval, Monteregie, Montreal, and Outaouais. The following measures are in place in these locations:

The nightly curfew runs between the hours of 21:30-05:00.
Indoor and outdoor private gatherings are banned, except for people living alone.
Events in public places are banned, with the exception of wedding and funerals which may be attended by up to 25 people.
Places of worship may allow up to 250 people to attend services.
Restaurants and bars must remain closed for on-premises service.
Theaters and cinemas may open with audiences limited to no more than 250 people.
Museums, stores, and personal care businesses can open with limitations.

Additionally, in the cities of Gatineau, Levis, and Quebec City, more restrictive measures will be in place until at least April 12. Nightly curfew hours in these municipalities will run 20:00-05:00; nonessential businesses must close, and religious gatherings are limited to a maximum of 25 people.

Four regions remain at Level 3-Alert of the province's plan, including Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Estrie, Mauricie et Centre-du-Quebec, and Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean. The following measures are in place for regions at Level 3:

A nightly curfew is in place between 21:30-05:00.
Religious activities are allowed for up to 250 people; weddings and funerals allowed with up to 25 people.
On-premises service at restaurants may open for a maximum of two adults per table.
Most other businesses and facilities, including museums, libraries, cinemas, stores, and personal care businesses, can open with capacity limits.

Nunavik and Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James are under special local measures. Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Cote-Nord, and Nord-du-Quebec are at Level-2-Early Warning and no longer under curfew orders. Provincewide, employees are required to work from home to the extent possible. More restrictive measures are possible over the coming weeks.

Saskatchewan
The use of facemasks is mandatory in all indoor public spaces. Indoor and 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. The sale of alcohol is banned nightly after 22:00. Through at least April 5 in Regina and the surrounding area, indoor gatherings are banned, restaurants must close for on-premises services, and most nonessential businesses must close

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.