Hair, nail salons and barbers may reopen in Ontario’s grey zones April 12

The provincial government says it will allow barber shops, hair and nail salons in Grey-Lockdown regions to reopen starting April 12 as part of a series of proposed modifications to its COVID-19 framework.

The government is also going to permit outdoor fitness classes, outdoor training for team and individual sports and outdoor personal training, with a limit of 10 people, starting Monday. Marinas and boating clubs are also going to be able to operate clubhouses or any restaurant, bar and other food or drink establishment for outdoor dining, also starting March 29.

Starting Monday, modifications are also coming to outdoor capacity limits for weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies in all levels of the province’s colour-coded framework as long as individuals can maintain two-metres of physical distance. This change, however, does not apply to social gatherings associated with these services, such as receptions.

Under the current restrictions, gatherings for weddings, funerals and other religious services are limited to 15 per cent capacity indoors or 50 people outdoors in the grey zone area.

All the measures surrounding personal care services and other changes is conditional upon the Lieutenant Governor signing off on the proposed new regulations.

Despite saying he was “very, very concerned,” Ford denied that changes are sending mixed messaging about the pandemic and the growing number of cases in the province’s hospital intensive care units.

“A message to the people of Ontario. Do not let your guard down,” Ford told reporters. “But, I gotta be frank, people are tired. I’m telling you, they’re tired, they’re exhausted out there, they need a little bit of fresh air. But please do it very carefully, that’s all we’re asking.”

The government also announced that the region of Hamilton would move back into the Grey-Lockdown zone of the province’s framework, effective March 29 while the Eastern Ontario Health Unit will move to the Red-Control category.

Provincial health officials say for the week of March 15 to 22, the Hamilton public health region’s case rate increased by more than 37 per cent, to 109.4 cases per 100,000 people. Over that same period, the positivity rate in the region rose to 4.6 per cent, above the high-alert threshold of 2.5 per cent.

“Over the last week, we have continued to see some concerning trends in key health indicators in regions across the province,” said Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott in a statement on Friday. “As we cautiously make targeted adjustments to public health measures to support the wellbeing of individuals and small business owners, it is critical that everyone remains vigilant and continues to
strictly follow all public health measures and advice to keep each other safe.”

Toronto and Peel Region will continue to be in the Grey-Lockdown zone moving forward.

The province says it is also going to ramp up enforcement in public health regions in the Yellow-Protect, Orange-Restrict, Red-Control and Grey-Lockdown zones to check for compliance when it comes to the Reopening Ontario Act.

The province further announced it was making changes to its “emergency brake” measure, bypassing cabinet approval.

The change will allow the province’s top doctor, in consultation with a local medical officer of health, to move a region into a “shutdown” with measures similar to those imposed in January, when most retailers closed and only essential services remained open.

“This will provide an extra layer of protection as we continue to fight this virus,” said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “The latest data continues to show some worrying trends throughout the province, and variants of concern remain a significant threat to public health. That is why it is important that people remain cautious and vigilant in order to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 and protect themselves and their communities.”

With files from The Canadian Press