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Morning Anti... Rook... Bart.
 

Morning Dave. Rook, Bart
 

Friday November 19, 2020

Ontario places Toronto and Peel Region under lockdown.
Here's what we need to know…


TORONTO -- The Ontario government will shutter most non-essential businesses, including gyms and personal care services, and will prohibit sit-down service in restaurants in two of the province’s COVID-19 hot spots as they grapple with a rise in infections.

Toronto and Peel Region have been placed in a lockdown, which is the province’s final category of the COVID-19 tiered framework that guides restrictions. Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement late Friday afternoon on the same day the province’s total number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 infections surpassed 100,000. “I know these past few months have been extremely difficult,” Ford said. “COVID fatigue is setting in on all of us. But I've seen the strength of our people and it's up to each and every one of us to determine our future to write the next chapter of our history.”

As well, the regions of Durham and Waterloo have been moved to the fourth category, the “red zone,” of the province’s five-tier framework.

The new measures come into effect on Monday.

Officials have said that regions will remain in their zone for a minimum of 28 days. This means that Toronto and Peel will be under lockdown until at least Dec. 21. "The situation is extremely serious and further action is required to avoid the worst-case scenario,” the premier said.

Here’s what you need to know about the new lockdown measures:

Public events and social gatherings

All indoor organized public events and social gatherings are prohibited, with the exception of gatherings with members of the same household. Outdoor gatherings have been restricted to 10 people, as long as physical distancing can be maintained. Places of worship will be restricted to 10 people indoors and 10 people outdoors. This applies to religious services, weddings and funerals. The restrictions would effectively mean worshipers in those regions would be prevented from praying inside and would instead have to travel to another region or attend services virtually.

Education

Publicly-funded schools in Ontario and child-care centres will remain open under the lockdown, however post-secondary institutions will be open for virtual instruction only. There will be exemptions for clinical training and trades, where in-person instruction is required.

Restaurants, bars and clubs

Indoor and outdoor service is prohibited at food establishments in lockdown regions. Takeout, drive through service, and delivery is permitted. This includes the sale of alcohol.

Retail and other businesses

Non-essential retail stores and some retail outlets have been restricted to curbside pick-up or delivery. This includes retail stores in malls. Essential businesses such as grocery stores, convenience stores, hardware stores, supply stores, alcohol stores, pharmacies will remain open and be limited to 50 percent capacity. Gardening centres and motor vehicle establishments will be open by appointment only. Customers are required to stand two metres away from each other while in line at any of the businesses listed above. Personal care services, such as hair salons, are closed. Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments, cinemas (except drive-ins), and performing arts facilities are also closed.

Sports and fitness centres

All indoor sports facilities and fitness centres will close, including indoor courts, pools and rinks. Outdoor sports and fitness classes will be limited to 10 people. Indoor sports, including training, has been prohibited. Community centres and other multi-purpose facilities will be allowed to open for certain activities such as child care.

Meeting spaces

All meeting spaces and event spaces will be closed with the exceptions of court services, government services, and mental health and addiction support services (with a maximum of 10 people).

When would a region go into lockdown?

The government also provided information on what officials will be looking for before deciding if a region should be moved into a lockdown, although the thresholds are admittedly vague.

As of Nov. 20, regions will be moved into a lockdown if they see “adverse trends” after entering the “red” zone. This includes:

• Increasing weekly case incidents and/or test positivity

• Increasing case incidence and/or test positivity among people over the age of 70.

• Increasing outbreaks among vulnerable populations or congregate settings

• Hospital and ICU capacity at risk of being overwhelmed

• Public health unit capacity for case and contact management at risk or overwhelmed

This information was previously left blank from the government’s tiered framework.

Changes to the red zone rules

The province also announced some changes to the red zone restrictions.

Indoor public gathering restrictions have been reduced to five people, while 25 people can still get together outdoors as long as physical distancing is maintained.

What supports are in place for businesses?

The province also said it will be doubling the funding available for businesses struggling amid the pandemic to $600 million. According to officials, the money would help support eligible businesses that are “required to close or significantly restrict services due to enhanced public health measures.”
 

I'm glad I live in the rural area now in life Dave.
It may come here again as it did in the spring where the restrictions cause the township to restrict the gatherings once again.
There's some upside for the rural on this second round and that is the winter is setting in and the cottages are closed down.
The folks won't be going out as much infecting the rural areas=and that's not a bad thing.
 

You must have a hard time being the professor of cool ARC !!
 

Looks like we might have a tad bit of snow tomorrow 5-10cm. I'm thinking that living in higher altitude of the area-I might be on the upper end of the total amounts or more.
It will just add to the chore list of what has to happen today-I'm thinking that the detector better stay in the closet now and the plans of sneaking out are dashed.
Just lovely.............
 

Were headed the same direction dave.....won't be long before we're locked down again.
 

I certainly don't mean to put a damper on the forum guys. :thumbsup:
Unfortunately, this is the reality we're all living in and to be honest, it's difficult to remain optimistic and positive with everything that's happening in the world right now.

Hope you all have a great Saturday,
Dave
 

Morning bill in advance. Got go down the road for a while
 

Dave,

Odds are the Montreal region isn't far behind. Just try to keep upbeat as best as we can and tough it out.
 

Good morning guys and gals. Sitting at a boat ramp watching the waves rolling in big time. It might be a while before we put in.

Dave, sorry to hear you are all on lockdown. Ohio is under a curfew. We all need to vent. It’s not healthy keeping things bottled up.
 

ECS,

Sounds like a scene from the wild west glad you made it through safe and sound.



Returning from Walgreens, I drive into my subdivision to see someone laying in the culvert ditch next to the road. My daughter and grandson call 911 and the young man, passed out from alcohol consumption was taken by EMT's to the hospital.
I live a block away of what will be turned into a Ocala bypass to Silver Springs and Hwy 40, when I heat sirens on that road. Looking our of my backyard I see a silver car speeding with a FHP in pursuit, with 12 Marion county Sheriffs lights in sirens following behind, and hear gunshots fired.
The chased ended two blocks away at a Publix shopping center that is being redone,
AND the suspects got away after another shootout at this Publix.
This incident began at a local downtown music store that the suspect tried to rob.
The luthier who is the only person besides me that works on my vintage guitars, ran out the back door, got a handgun from his car's glove compartment, and commenced to shooting at the robber, who made a hasty retreat into a waiting car and sped off in front of a FHP, and the chase was on.
EPILOG: The suspect was arrested today in Gainesville- he was driving a rental car with GPS.
...and the beat goes on...
 

Ya wow....forgot to mention the ECS shootout...wow !! Duck or bleed !!
 

Morning WD, Bill
 

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