Pandemic stay-at-home order lifts in Toronto, Peel

There were massive lineups and cars full of purchases across Toronto and Peel region today as non-essential retail opens up for the first time in more than 100 days. Shauna Hunt speaks to residents stepping out for some retail therapy.

A stay-at-home order in Toronto, Peel Region and North Bay will lift Monday as the province loosens pandemic restrictions imposed nearly two months ago.

The three regions were the last ones still under the order, and are transitioning back to the government’s colour-coded pandemic response framework.

Toronto and Peel will enter the “grey-lockdown” category, something local public health officials asked for in both regions.

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Even those strict measures, however, allow more retailers to open, with restrictions, but leave gyms and personal care services closed. Restaurants, meanwhile, can only offer takeout, drive-thru or delivery.

North Bay, meanwhile, will be placed in the “red-control” zone, the second most restrictive level of pandemic measures.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says the government is taking a “safe and cautious approach” to ending the provincewide shutdown, which started in January.