Stay-at-home order extended in Toronto, Peel and North Bay-Parry Sound

The Government of Ontario announced on February 19, 2021 it will maintain the shutdown, stay-at-home order and all existing public health measures for two more weeks in Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions and the North Bay-Parry Sound Public Health District until at least Monday, March 8, 2021.

Dealerships in shutdown regions must operate by appointment only, and only open between 7:00AM and 8:00PM. Masks should be worn by everyone participating in a test drive. Vehicles should be properly disinfected before and after each test drive. Test drives should last no more than ten minutes.

The York Region Public Health will transition out of the shutdown and into the revised and strengthened COVID-19 response framework at the Red-Control level. It will no longer be subject to thestay-at-home order. Lambton Public Health will move from the Orange-Restrict level to the Red-Control level. These changes will come into effect on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.

After returning to the Framework, public health regions are required to stay in their level for at least two weeks. The government will then assess the impact of public health and workplace safety measures to determine if the region should stay where it is or be moved to a different level. Public health regions may be moved to a higher level within the two-week window, if necessary, based on the set indicators and thresholds outlined in the Framework.

The government of Ontario has also introduced an “emergency brake”, allowing the Chief Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the local medical officer of health, to immediately advise moving a region into Grey-Lockdown to interrupt transmission.

What does this mean for dealers and salespeople?

OMVIC released a bulletin outlining what requirements are needed for each region in the COVID-19 response framework on February 13, 2021. Dealers and salespeople can also review the government’s framework.

Still have questions?

Questions about what each level means can be directed to [email protected] or the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services’ Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.