ALL ONTARIO PARK FACILITIES NOW CLOSED
ONTARIO — It’s still OK for most people to go outside for a walk, a bike ride — or the kids to play in the backyard — but community park facilities are now officially off limits as are dog parks.
Public trails are still OK to use — but keep your distance.
Premier Doug Ford has ordered all parks — for people and pets — closed immediately to try and corral the spread of the coronavirus.
March 30, he extended the Declaration of Emergency and associated emergency measures, including the closure of non-essential workplaces and restrictions on social gatherings.
In addition, Ontario is issuing a new emergency order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to close all outdoor recreational amenities, such as sports fields and playgrounds, effective immediately. These actions are based on the advice of the chief medical officer of health.
The order closes all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities everywhere in Ontario, including but not limited to playgrounds, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, off-leash dog parks, beaches, skateboard and BMX parks, picnic areas, outdoor community gardens, park shelters, outdoor exercise equipment, condo parks and gardens, and other outdoor recreational amenities.
Green spaces in parks, trails, ravines and conservation areas that aren’t otherwise closed would remain open for walkthrough access, but individuals must maintain the safe physical distance of at least two metres apart from others. Ontario’s provincial parks and conservation reserves remain closed.
“I know our municipal partners are already taking action locally to protect their residents,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “This order makes the rules around closing shared outdoor recreational amenities consistent across the province.”
To ensure the province is able to continue its extensive efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Ontario will also extend the March 17, 2020 declaration of emergency and subsequent emergency orders, regulations and amendments issued under s.7.0.1 and 7.0.2(4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
The following declaration and orders have been extended and will be in effect until April 13, 2020:
Declaration of a provincial emergency
Prohibiting events and gatherings of more than five people
Enforcement of emergency orders
Work deployment f or health service providers
Work deployment for long-term care homes
Electronic service of documents
Closure of non-essential workplaces
QUICK FACTS:
Ontarians should stay home except for essential reasons, and to limit the number of these essential trips. Essential reasons include accessing health care services and medication, grocery shopping, walking pets when required and supporting vulnerable community members to meet the above needs.
It is strongly recommended that people over 70 years old or who have compromised immune systems and/or underlying medical conditions self-isolate and get help with essential errands.
On March 25, 2020, the federal government announced an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act that requires any person entering Canada by air, sea or land to self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they have symptoms of COVID-19.
They must not go to work, grocery stores or on walks.
They should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days and contact their primary care providers or Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000) if they experience symptoms.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
For public inquiries, call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (toll-free in Ontario only).
Email Mark Clairmont at mark@muskokatoday.com
Celebrating 25 YEARS of ‘Local Online Journalism’
Follow him at Twitter @muskokatodaily
And on Facebook at mark@muskokatodaily.com
Follow us on Twitter @muskokatodaily
And on Facebook at mclairmont1
Email news@muskokatoday.com
Letters to the Editor always welcome:
Let us know what you’re thinking. Click on the Comment button at the end of this story to leave your comments.
Or write a Letter to the Editor …
And … please Subscribe:
Support Your Community’s Newspaper
at https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions
