News

The Ontario government has declared a provincial emergency and issued a stay-at-home order restricting all non-essential travel outside the home across Ontario starting Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. The stay at home order is expected to last for 4 weeks.

The stay-at-home order requires everyone to remain at home and only go out for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely.

The order is in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario, as well as modelling that projects case numbers that could quickly overwhelm the province’s health care system.

In addition to the stay-at-home order, new public health and workplace safety measures have been implemented for non-essential retailers. Measures include, but are not limited to:

• Limiting the majority of non-essential retailers to only operate for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., with delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm, and other restrictions;
• Restricting discount and big box stores in-person retail sales to grocery items, pet care supplies, household cleaning supplies, pharmaceutical items, health care items, and personal care items only.

Full details about the province’s announcement, including a list of essential services, is available on the Government of Ontario website. Ontario businesses who have questions about new regulations are encouraged to contact the Province’s toll-free COVID-19 Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.

Resident are reminded to take precautions to stay safe and follow public health regulations.

Information about Norfolk County services and facilities during the stay-at-home order is available at NorfolkCounty.ca/COVID-19.

Information about Haldimand County services and facilities during the stay-at-home order is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19.