Durham residents this holiday season are being asked to stay home to be safe and buy local to support regional businesses.
“Due to Covid-19, the holidays are going to look a little different this year,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer:
In addition to public health measures that are currently in place as part of the Control – Red Category, the Province of Ontario has issued some general advice to consider when planning holiday activities.
“To help us safely celebrate with our loved ones, Durham residents are urged to avoid large gatherings and all non-essential travel to other regions. Please, as much as possible, stay in Durham,” said Henry.
He said we can still enjoy a fun holiday season—our favourite traditions will just look a little different this year. Instead of a large family dinner, celebrate with your immediate household only or invite your larger group to attend virtually. Instead of attending a holiday party, invite your friends to a virtual gathering online. There are also plenty of drive-in and drive-through events taking place over the holidays for you and your loved ones to safely enjoy.
“With holiday gift-giving top of mind, and Black Friday sales filling our inboxes, I urge you to shop online and avoid large crowds. But please, shop local. This year—more than ever—buying local will have a big impact on Durham’s business community. Many local businesses have online, delivery and curbside pick-up options available. For more information, visit ShopInDurham.ca,” said Henry.
Durham Region’s Medical Officer of Health has also issued guidance for retail establishments on how to operate safely. For additional resources and support, businesses are encouraged to visit durham.ca/ReopeningToolKit.
“Remember, we’re all in this together. Let’s work together to help flatten the curve, support our local economy, and enjoy a #DurhamStrong holiday season,” he added.
Ontario Advice on How to Protect Your Loved Ones
Toronto: Ontario has issued a Public Health Measures Table to provide preliminary guidance on how to safely celebrate this year and protect your loved ones.
“I know there are many people looking forward to their traditional family celebrations at this time of year, but to keep your loved ones safe, traditions will have to be adjusted,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We’re asking everyone to please stick to your own household when celebrating. Avoid big holiday parties or large family dinners to help us stop the spread of this deadly virus. By following this public health advice, we can all have a safe and fun holiday season.”
While public health measures to keep Ontarians safe may be different in communities across the province, the following is some general advice to consider when planning your holiday season:
| Safer Holiday Activities | Riskier Holiday Activities |
| Virtual holiday gatherings or events with family, friends or co-workers. | In-person holiday gatherings or events, particularly gatherings where masks or face coverings must be removed to eat or drink. |
| Outdoor holiday activities such as building a snowman or going on a sleigh ride with members of your household. | Indoor holiday activities such as having overnight guests or sleepovers with friends or people outside your household. |
| Visiting Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus or their elves outdoors and taking photos while keeping two metres apart. | Visiting Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus or their elves indoors and taking photos without being two metres apart. Children are not permitted to sit on Santa’s lap this year. |
| Attending a drive-in or drive-through event. | Visiting family and friends for non-essential reasons. Individuals and families in higher transmission areas should avoid going to lower transmission areas, except for essential reasons. |
| Watching holiday or other movies with your household. | Hosting or attending social gatherings or organized public events that do not adhere to provincial or local requirements. See below for information about the gathering limits that apply in the various zones. |
| Decorating your doors and putting up lights around your home. | |
| Lighting your menorah. | |
| Baking holiday treats with your immediate household. | |
| Donating to your favourite holiday charity or toy drive. |
While the above is recommended advice from public health officials, remember you must adhere to public health and workplace safety measures and rules in your region.
A new holiday web page will be launched shortly to provide more direct and up-to-date guidance on how individuals and families can plan for a safe holiday season.
It is important for everyone to adhere to the public health measures in their communities, especially when connecting with others. All Ontarians are strongly recommended to continue doing the following:
- Stay home if you have Covid-19 symptoms, even if they are mild;
- Avoid social gatherings and limit close contacts to your household or the people you live with;
- Maintain two metres of physical distancing from everyone else;
- Adhere to the restrictions in your region on public and private gatherings;
- Wear a face covering indoors and wear one outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained or if wearing one is required;
- Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly;
- Cover your cough;
- Get tested if you have symptoms compatible with Covid-19, or if you’ve been advised of exposure by your local public health unit or through the Covid Alert mobile app;
- Individuals and families from higher transmission regions should avoid travel to lower transmission regions (e.g., from Red level to Orange level), except for essential reasons; and
- Download the Covid Alert mobile app.
Ontarians are advised to visit Ontario.ca/Covidresponse to learn what public health measures are in place in their community, and check with their public health unit for any additional information or restrictions. Advice may also vary by the level a public health unit is in, which can change depending on public health trends in the region as the holiday season approaches.
Social Gathering Limits by Level under the Regulations
- In all levels, people are required to comply with public health guidance on physical distancing;
- Indoor and outdoor limits can not be combined to increase the applicable limit;
- The specified limits apply to gatherings even if in a private dwelling, including houses, apartment buildings, condominium buildings and post-secondary student residences;
- The limits do not apply to a gathering of members of a single household.
Green-Prevent, Yellow-Protect and Orange-Restrict:
- The limit for indoor social gatherings is 10 people;
- The limit for outdoor social gatherings is 25 people.
- The limit for indoor social gatherings is five people;
- The limit for outdoor social gatherings is 25 people.
- Indoor social gatherings are not permitted, except for a gathering of members of a single household, or a gathering that includes members of a household and one other person from outside that household who lives alone;
- The limit for outdoor social gatherings is 10 people.
Note that capacity limits for religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services are different from the above. Refer to O. Reg. 82/20, O. Reg. 263/20, and O. Reg. 364/20.
If a person or business is not found compliant with orders under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to Covid-19) Act, 2020 (“Reopening Ontario Act”), they could be ticketed with a fine of $750 under the Act.
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