Celebrate holidays with just your household amid COVID-19: Ford

The Ontario government says residents should only celebrate the holidays with their households this year as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

People who live alone are allowed to join one other household so they don’t have to spend the holidays alone.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement Wednesday, while also encouraging people to shop local this season. Small businesses have been forced to close during the lockdown in the worst-hit regions, while big box stores, like Costco, remain open.

“I take guidance from Dr. [David] Williams and the health team. I am happy that we made this decision because it’s very simple. We have to lower the numbers,” Ford said.

“We’re trying to doing a happy balance. We have to keep the economy moving and protect the health and well-being of everybody in this province.”

Toronto and Peel Region are currently under the grey or lockdown level in the province’s tiered COVID-19 alert system, with those restrictions to stay in place at least until the week of Christmas.

Public health measures under the lockdown level include a ban on indoor gatherings except with those in the same household, as well as closing down restaurants for all but takeout and delivery.

Health Minister Christine Elliott encouraged people to hold virtual celebrations with their extended families instead of gathering together in person.

The province’s top doctor said earlier this week it seemed unlikely the situation would improve in those regions enough over 28 days to warrant moving them to the red alert level, which is one level lower.

Dr. Theresa Tam, the country’s chief public health officer, also urged Canadians Wednesday to avoid non-essential outings.

Tam warned that the number of people experiencing severe cases of COVID-19 is continuing to rise, putting a strain on health-care services and forcing hospitals to cancel surgeries. She said it’s safest to limit errands and outings to essentials and to avoid socializing with people beyond one’s household.

“This is why as public health authorities implement measures to interrupt spread, Canadians are being called upon,” she said in a statement.

“It is safest for all of us to limit errands and outings to just the essentials, limit in-person activities to just our existing household members and keep up with key prevention practices,” she said, referring to handwashing, physical distancing and mask-wearing.

Five other regions – Hamilton, Durham, Halton, York and Waterloo – are currently classified as red zones, which caps social gatherings at five people indoors and 25 outdoors.

Ontario’s most recent modelling showed the province is on track to see up to 6,500 new daily cases of COVID-19 by mid-December, though those projections are expected to be updated Thursday.