New restrictions were announced by Premier Doug Ford on Friday, April 16. They were made in response to new modeling data, which shows an increased demand on already strapped hospitals and ICU’s. the new measures come into effect Saturday at 12:01 a.m.
The new measures, which are in addition to the existing stay-at-home restrictions, include:
- an extension of the stay-at-home order to six weeks
- closing recreational facilities such as tennis courts and playgrounds
- limiting outdoor gatherings to household members only
- restricting interprovincial travel
- closing all non-essential construction
- reducing capacity to only 25 per cent for big box and grocery stores
- limiting religious gatherings, weddings and funerals to 10 individuals, indoors or outdoors
- granting police increased powers to stop anyone outside, to question them on where they reside and why they are not home
- increasing workplace inspections, to ensure compliance
