News

EOHU Orders Several Types of Establishments to Close Immediately to Prevent Spread of COVID-19

2020-03-22

In response to an increasing number of community-acquired COVID-19 cases in Ontario, and to clarify some public confusion, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), is ordering the immediate closure of several additional types of establishments.

In an Order pursuant to section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA), the following types of establishments or premises in the EOHU area must be closed, effective as of March 22nd and until further notice:

  • *All daycares and other childcare centres and services (those that were not previously included in the provincial closure order)
  • All public gyms, fitness and sport centres and services (to clarify that gyms are considered recreational centres, which have been previously ordered closed)
  • All churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship (previously recommended, but now ordered to close)
  • All personal service settings (as it is impossible to offer these services while maintaining a distance of two metres between individuals), including:
    • Hairdressing and barbering
    • Tattooing
    • Body piercing
    • Nail services
    • Electrolysis
    • Other aesthetic services

*Exemptions will be made for select daycare centres providing childcare for frontline essential workers.

Businesses that fail to comply with the above Order are liable, upon conviction, to a fine.

“I acknowledge that these closures are difficult, and I have not taken this decision lightly,” says Dr. Roumeliotis. “However, we must take all measures necessary as a society to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our community, given the increase in cases locally and worldwide.”

For more information about the Order issued by Dr. Roumeliotis, please consult the official document on the EOHU’s website.

For more information about COVID-19, please consult EOHU.ca/coronavirus and Ontario’s website at Ontario.ca/coronavirus, where you’ll find the new self-assessment tool.