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The Ontario Government announced on February 8, 2021 that there will be a gradual re-opening of regions in Ontario. This means a return to the colour coded system that was put in place prior to December 26th, 2020. The College of Opticians of Ontario have issued their own statement to help guide Opticians through the gradual re-opening. Effective February 10th, 2021 The following regions will be moved into the Green-Prevent Level in accordance with the "COVID-19 response framework":
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
Renfrew County and District Unit Health
Those in the Green-Prevent Level will no longer be under the "Stay-at-Home" order, and will no longer need to restrict their operating hours. As of February 16th, 2021 the following regions will be moved to their respective colour coded levels:
Algoma Public Health – Yellow–Protect
Brant County Public Health Unit – Orange–Restrict
Chatham-Kent Public Health – Red–Control
Durham Region Health Department – Red–Control
Eastern Ontario Health Unit – Orange–Restrict
Grey Bruce Health Unit – Yellow–Protect
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit – Orange–Restrict
Halton Region Health Department – Red–Control
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit – Orange–Restrict
Hamilton Public Health Services – Red–Control
Huron Perth Public Health – Orange–Restrict
Lambton Health Unit – Orange–Restrict
Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit – Green–Prevent
Middlesex-London Health Unit – Red–Control
Niagara Region Public Health Department – Grey–Lockdown
Northwestern Health Unit – Yellow–Protect
Ottawa Public Health – Orange–Restrict
Peterborough Public Health – Yellow–Protect
Porcupine Health Unit – Orange–Restrict
Public Health Sudbury and Districts – Orange–Restrict
Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services – Red–Control
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit – Red–Control
Southwestern Public Health – Red–Control
Thunder Bay District Health Unit – Red–Control
Timiskaming Health Unit – Green–Prevent
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health – Red–Control
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit – Red–Control
The following regions remain subject to shutdown measures or have been designated as Grey-Lockdown and must continue to operate on an appointment-only basis and restrict hours to between 7am and 8pm:
North Bay Parry Sound District
Peel Public Health
Toronto Public Health
York Region Public Health
Niagara Region Public Health
The College of Opticians of Ontario reminds us that;
"Optical stores in the Red, Orange, Yellow and Green regions will no longer be required to operate on an appointment-only basis or restrict hours. Opticians in all regions, however, must continue to limit store capacity in accordance with the guidelines specified for their region."
Please see the Government of Ontario website for details on the Colour framework and restrictions.
Until your region returns to the colour coded framework, the Stay-at-home order is still in place.
To read the entire COO Update #26 CLICK HERE.
To read the entire COO Update #27 CLICK HERE.
The Ontario Opticians Association is committed to keeping you informed and safe. We will continue to update all Ontario Opticians as we receive more information.
Stay Safe.
The Ontario Opticians Association