Guelph is going Red.
The province announced Friday that the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health coverage area is shifting from Orange (Restrict) to Red (Control) level.
The new restrictions go into effect Monday and will be in place for a minimum of 28 days.
“The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, local medical officers of health, and other health experts, is moving seven public health regions to new levels with stronger public health measures,” said a news release.
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and York Region Public Health are moving to Grey (Lockdown) level.
Joining Guelph in Red are Middlesex-London Health Unit and Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
Red Level limits the number of people allowed in restaurants , bars and indoor gyms and exercise classes to a maximum of 10 people. Twenty five for outdoor classes at gyms.
Gatherings are limited to five people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
The limit is 30% capacity for religious services. Maximum of 100 people can be outside.
On Nov. 30 the City of Guelph posted a news release stating that it planned on going above and beyond provincial guidelines if and when Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health was placed in the Red level.
While the regulations would allow up to 10 people to use sports and recreation facilities, the city said it would close, city-run pools and rinks and gyms, pause team sports and practices at city facilities and pause all drop-in and registered fitness classes or programs at city facilities.
Also:
- Outdoor rinks, parks, trails and washrooms will remain open.
- City hall and provincial court service counters will remain open.
- The Guelph Farmers Market will remain open.
- Guelph library locations continue to be open.
- Guelph Museums would remain open.
- No service changes to Guelph Transit.
The province has indicators and thresholds that are met before declaring a region a certain level.
For Red (Control) level, those include:
- Weekly incidence rate is 40 per 100,000 or more
- Percent positivity is 2.5% or more
- Rt is 1.2 or more
- Repeated outbreaks in multiple sectors and settings, increasing number of large outbreaks
- Level of community transmission and non-epi linked cases increasing
- Hospital and ICU capacity at risk of being overwhelmed
- Public health unit capacity for case and contact management at risk or overwhelmed
