We hate to be the bearer of bad news but on Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford welcomed constituents to another edition of COVID-19 lockdown, with the announcement of a new list of limitations that will take effect provincewide at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, December 19th.
When do new Covid restrictions start in Ontario?
Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, the gathering sizes will drop from 25 people to 10 people indoors, and the outdoor gathering limitations will be reduced to 25.
Ontario has restored capacity restrictions of 50 percent at most indoor settings throughout the province. This covers restaurants and bars, personal care businesses, retail chains, and shopping malls.
Bars, restaurants, and strip clubs will be ordered to close at 11 p.m., with the exception of take-out and delivery services.
The permitted number of people to sit at a table is 10, and patrons will be asked to remain seated in restaurants, bars, and other food or drink businesses.
Dancing and singing are prohibited. Workers or performers are the only people who may sing and dance.
The government has issued a complete shutdown of food and beverage services at sporting events, concert venues, theatres, cinemas, casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming sites.
Ugh, we know this one totally ruined New Years Eve but yes...After 10 p.m., alcohol sales will be limited.
The government adds that any part of a business used for a wedding, funeral, or religious service, ritual, or ceremony is not subject to the following limitations.
According to CTV News Toronto, the Ontario government expects to post 6,000 COVID-19 readings per day by the end of the weekend.
"While our intensive care units remain stable, we expect the number of admissions to grow as more people catch COVID-19, particularity the unvaccinated," Premier Doug Ford said Friday.
Ford Also announced that starting next Monday, people 18 and older will be able to get COVID-19 booster shots.
The time between a person's second dose and booster shot was reduced from six months to three months.
The province also said it would restrict capacity in some indoor spaces with more than 1,000 people to 50 percent.
"I know you are tired," Ford said. "Over the last 20 months, you have been asked to sacrifice so much. We've all dug so deep and now we need to dig a little deeper. We'll get through this."
What precautions can be taken in food services to prevent COVID-19?
In foodservice operations and meal facilities:
• follow safe operations guidance from your local public health authority
• Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• The use of masks when handling food.
• Avoid serving food and beverages buffet style, if possible
• If you must line up for services, make sure that individuals maintain at least 2 meters between them.
• If you're delivering or displaying food items, wrap or package them separately.
• Promote "no sharing" precautions, such as utensils or condiments.
• Make sure that restaurant employees have access to and wear the proper PPE when collecting or cleaning used plates, cups, and utensils, or when delivering food.
• Encourage patrons to return food service utensils or take-out/delivery items in their original closed packages.
A Message from Toronto Pho
Looking for food near you will be a little different now. We understand that these limitations make dining a pain, but we are still open every day until 2 am at our Jane location for take-out in the meantime. You won't be able to dine in our restaurants until midnight as usual, but we will be available for take-out. We continue to focus on providing our customers with great value, fresh late-night Vietnamese meals that are not only made to order but also delicious! We're dedicated to the health and safety of our customers, just as we've always been. We'll go above and above to make these uncertain times a little less distressing for you. Thank you for continuing to support our restaurant Toronto Pho through this difficult period. We apologize in advance for any difficulties this may cause and appreciate your loyalty.
