COVID-19

Law firms and those who support the legal & justice system continue to be on the list of essential workplaces for Ontario.

Ontario enables auto insurance companies to provide drivers with rebates during COVID-19 to help ease financial pressures during the pandemic. 

Certain businesses allowed to reopen under strict safety guidelines including:

• Seasonal businesses (garden centres and nurseries (curb side pickup)
• Lawn care and landscaping
• Essential construction projects
• Automatic/self serve car washes
• Auto dealerships (by appointment) 

Ontario expands virtual mental health services to help those experiencing anxiety and depression, including frontline workers. These include internet based cognitive behavioural therapy programs, virtual mental health support services.

Ontario government allows all retail stores with a street entrance to provide curbside pickup and delivery, in-store payment and purchases at garden centres/nurseries, hardware stores and safety supply stores. Retail stores can open effective May 11, 2020.  

Ontario announces plan to resume scheduled surgeries and medical procedures.

Ontario government announces additional seasonal, retail and household businesses/service providers can reopen/expand their services in Stage 1 on May 19, 2020. 

Ontario allows more businesses and services to reopen in Stage 2. Several public health unit regions are allowed to move into Stage 2 on June 12, 2020. The limit on social gatherings is increased from 5 to 10 people and all places of worship can open with restrictions. In Stage 2, restaurants/bars can offer outdoor dine-in services, hair salons and beauty salons can reopen with proper measures in place, as well as several outdoor social activities. 

The province encourages Ontarians to establish a social “circle” of up to 10 people. 

Ontario courts gradually resume in-person proceedings with plan to reopen all courts by November 1, 2020. The outbreak has limited in-person court appearances to urgent matters only and proceedings have continued remotely via video and teleconference. Online filing of claims is available for civil matters. 

Ontario government announces Stage 3 plan where more businesses and public spaces will reopen. Public gatherings can increase in size to a maximum of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, subject to physical distancing requirements. 

Ontario releases plan for safe reopening of schools in September with option for remote learning.

Ontario will allow licensed childcare centres across Ontario to open at full capacity effective September 1, 2020. 

COVID Alert app becomes available for download.

The government of Canada reveals its CERB transition plan and announces 3 new recovery benefits. The benefits are the Canada Recovery Benefit, Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit. These benefits will be effective from September 27, 2020 on. Click here for more information.

Ontario extends orders under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020.

Ontario releases the Operational Guidance-COVID-19 Management in Schools, the government’s back-to-school plan.