As the government of Ontario moves into Stage One of their Framework for Reopening Ontario, CK Public Health is asking Chatham-Kent residents to keep up their efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“As restrictions are gradually eased, we must continue to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet at all times,” stated Chatham-Kent’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby, in a media release.
CK Public Health officials say in addition to this requirement, Dr. Colby is issuing the following directions:
– Businesses and other groups should not operate unless they are prepared to adhere to public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19
– Non-medical masks must be worn at any time where physical distancing of at least 6 feet cannot be adhered to (i.e. where there is more than one rider in a golf cart)
– There continues to be a limit of five people or less when gathering
“This is not back to normal,” Dr. Colby added
“But it’s a start.”
As early as Saturday, May 16, at 12:01 am, the following seasonal services and activities will be permitted to open:
– Golf courses will be able to open, with clubhouses open only for washrooms and restaurants open only for take-out.
– Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches may open for recreational use.
– Private parks and campgrounds may open to enable preparation for the season and to allow access for trailers and recreational vehicles whose owners have a full season contract.
– Businesses that board animals, such as stables, may allow boarders to visit, care for or ride their animal.
CK Public Health officials say provided that the general trend on health indicators continues to improve, other retailers, seasonal businesses and health community service providers will be permitted to open or expand their services on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. These include:
– Retail services that are not in shopping malls and have separate street-front entrances with measures in place that can enable physical distancing, such as limiting the number of customers in the store at any one time and booking appointments beforehand or on the spot.
– Seasonal businesses and recreational activities for individual or single competitors, including training and sport competitions conducted by a recognized national or provincial sport organization. This includes indoor and outdoor non-team sport competitions that can be played while maintaining physical distancing and without spectators, such as tennis, track and field and horse racing. In addition to this measure, Dr. Colby is also requiring that singles tennis is the only format permitted at this time. Doubles tennis will only be allowed if partners reside within the same home.
– Animal services, specifically pet care services, such as grooming and training, and regular veterinary appointments.
– Indoor and outdoor household services that can follow public health guidelines, such as housekeepers, cooks, cleaning and maintenance.
– Lifting essential workplace limits on construction.
– Allowing certain health and medical services to resume, such as in-person counselling; in-person services, in addition to virtual services, delivered by health professionals; and scheduled surgeries, all based on the ability to meet pre-specified conditions as outlined in A Measured Approach to Planning for Surgeries and Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
A full, detailed list, along with the additional local directives can be found on the Closure Updates page of CK Public Health’s COVID-19 website at www.ckpublichealth.com/closures
Residents with questions about what will be open or impacts that these announcements have on your business or employment are encouraged to call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
Local businesses can learn more about how to operate safely upon re-opening by visiting https://ckphu.com/information-for-workplaces/
For more information about COVID-19 locally, CK residents are asked to visit www.ckpublichealth.com/covid19 or call the CK Public Health COVID-19 intake line at 519.355.1071 x 1900
