Toronto, April 1: Today Premier Doug Ford has announced a 28-day province-wide shutdown in Ontario amid third wave beginning 12:01 AM Saturday, April 3 to curb the alarming spread of COVID-19 and in particular of hospitalization to the variants concern. This lockdown further reinforces that people are not out of the woods yet and that they remain in a sensitive and critical phase of the pandemic. Vaccines are being administered but the virus continues to spread at an alarming rate. Therefore residents are urged to limit their contact with others, so others can avoid this being a longer lockdown.

However, the provincial lockdown impacts programs and facilities everywhere. Eventually, all recreation facilities and programming will be suspended in that way. The city and municipal recreation staff will work with community groups in response to the new restrictions.

The cities and municipalities have taken a responsible approach throughout the pandemic by adhering to the protocols while addressing the community’s needs. At the same time, they have been fiscally responsible by not prematurely reopening all facilities, including community centers, libraries and cultural facilities, which would have meant a greater financial burden on the property taxpayers.

Grocery and essential retail will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity while small businesses and non-essential retail can remain open at 25% capacity. Personal care services and fitness facilities will be closed. Restaurants will be restricted to takeout and delivery. Also, limiting capacity at weddings, funerals, and religious services to 15 per cent occupancy per room indoors, and to the number of people who can maintain two meters of physical distance outdoors are imposed. This does not include social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions, which are not permitted indoors and are limited to five people outdoors.

It is critically important that residents continue to stay home as much as possible and not hold social gatherings with people outside their households. As this is a period of significant religious observances, in particular Passover, Easter and Ramadan, people must all do their part to stay within their household bubble and adhere to the public health protocols.

Meanwhile, a group of 153 ICU physicians issued an open letter to the government Thursday urging stricter public health measures. The letter, which came before the province’s announcement, warns that the doctors are seeing younger patients — including parents of school-aged children — and entire families sickened by the more contagious coronavirus variants of concern.