Code Orange: Eastern Ontario Health Unit rejoins Ottawa in 'Restrict' level for COVID-19 restrictions

OTTAWA — With new COVID-19 cases rising across the region, new restrictions will be imposed on bars, restaurants, fitness centres, gyms, sports and movie theatres in Eastern Ontario.

The Ontario government announced the Eastern Ontario Health Unit region will move to the "orange-restrict" zone on Monday, after spending three weeks in the "yellow-protect" zone.

Public Health Ontario reported 46 new cases of COVID-19 in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit region on Friday. Forty-three new cases of COVID-19 were announced in the region last Friday, which was the previous one-day record.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit is at 73 cases per 100,000 people for the period of Dec. 1 to 7.

"Stay home with your loved ones, with people that we live with only. Do not mix with others, do not travel, do not have people come from other parts of the province as well," said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Eastern Ontario's Medical Officer of Health.

"It's a Canadian-wide issue; so it's not just our region, it's just not the Eastern Ontario part. So, we need to ensure that now we limit the mixing together of people."

The City of Ottawa will remain in the "orange-restrict" zone.

In the "orange-restrict" level of Ontario's colour-coded COVID-19 restriction system, last call for bars and restaurants is at 9 p.m., and establishments must close at 10 p.m. except for take out and delivery. Capacity restrictions limit the number of people sitting at a table to four people.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit covers Alexandria, Cornwall, Casselman, Clarence-Rockland, Prescott-Russell and Hawkesbury areas.

Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington remains in the "yellow-protect" zone, while the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit also moves into the "yellow-protect" zone.

Here is a look at the restrictions for the "Orange-Restrict" level for Ottawa and Eastern Ontario:

Gathering limits

Gathering limits for select organized public events and social gatherings (e.g., private gatherings at home, in parks, etc., barbeques):

Gathering limit for organized public events and social gatherings:

Gathering limits for religious services, rites or ceremonies, including weddings and funerals:

Other requirements:

Restaurants, bars, and food & drink establishments

Sports and gyms

Retail

Personal Care Services

Casinos, Bingo Halls and Gaming Establishments 

Cinemas

Meeting and Event Spaces

Performing Arts Facilities