March 12, 2020: Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces that publicly funded schools across the province will be closed for two weeks following March break. Dec. 8, 2020:Elliott says residents who get a COVID-19vaccine will be issued proof they received a shot which may be necessary to avoid some restrictions. Ford himself had tested negative. We need to move quickly and decisively. "[110], On March 29, per a recommendation issued by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), Ontario and other provinces suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for patients younger than 55 years old, due to concerns over a rare side effect of blood clots with low blood platelets. Ontario recorded another record-breaking day of new cases on January 2, 2021, with 3,363 new infections reported. Apr. New Zealand will be under the strictest level lockdown level for the next three days starting from 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, local time, Ardern said. Oct. 2, 2020: Ontario announces province-wide mask policy as well as restrictions on number of patrons in bars, restaurants, nightclubs, Banquet halls, event spaces and gyms. UK gross domestic product (GDP) - a measure of total economic activity - fell by 24% between February and April . March 24, 2020:Ontario health officials confirm 85 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, bringing the provincial total to 572 active cases. The announcement followed a rising sense of alarm in the preceding months over a new, potentially lethal virus that was swiftly spreading around the world. Apr. All told, you've been unable to sit down to a meal in a Toronto . June 11, 2020:Province announces cautious restart plan to allow visitors back into the provinces long-term care homes beginning June 18. April 20, 2020:The Ontario government releases the latest modelling, which shows that community spread may have peaked across the province, but officials also warn that numbers continue to grow in long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings. The impact of lockdown on economic activity has been lower in autumn and winter 2020 and early 2021 than in spring 2020, as people and businesses continue to adapt to life under coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. The entire province is now in Stage 2. ontario winning lottery . [32], Ontario recorded two records on January 7 a record high in new infections at 3,519 new cases and the deadliest day of the pandemic so far with 89 deaths. [229], On July 16, Ontario entered Step 3 of the Roadmap To Reopen plan that was originally scheduled for July 21.[261]. May 27, 2020: Ontario government says it is extending all current emergency orders until June 9. Sept. 8, 2020:Health Minister Christine Elliott announces a pause in loosening any more restrictions that have been put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic. June 22, 2020:Toronto and Peel Region permitted to enter Stage 2 of the provinces recovery plan. 28, 2021: Lecce issues letter to federal government, calling on them to prepare for the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth. [33] In response to the continued surge, the province announced that the Provincewide Shutdown would be extended in northern Ontario for an additional 14 days (aligned with the length of Provincewide Shutdown in the south), and that elementary schools in the south will not return to in-person class until January 25. June 6, 2020:The Ford government extends emergency orders by another 10 days. The mans illness is officially confirmed two days later. 26. Ontario has been requiring a whole ton of different childhood vaccinations to attend public schools since 1982. . In a reversal of his prior stance, Ford also announced plans to introduce a provincial paid sick leave program, arguing that they needed to compensate for "important improvements" that were not included in the CRSB in the 2021 federal budget. Four days later, the province does an about face and extends online learning until Jan. 25. The provinces chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, denies responsibility for the shortcoming. 9, 2021: Ontario Premier Doug Ford receives his first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19vaccine on camera Friday. 1, 2021: Lecce says schools will remain open as they are critical for mental health and learning. He also previously said the April Break will go ahead as planned. Dec. 26, 2020:Ontario confirms Canadas first known cases of the U.K. coronavirus variant involving a couple from Durham Region who were in contact with a recent traveller from the U.K. Dec. 26, 2020:A province-wide lockdown gets underway with a higher level of restrictions being placed on the southern portion of the province for four weeks while the less populous northern portion of Ontario being shutdown for just two weeks. In a televised address to . Ford reportedly made a similar request to Saskatchewan, although the province denied that this had happened. Feb. 16, 2021: Twenty-seven regions move back to the colour-coded pandemic restrictions system used prior to a provincewide lockdown that began on Boxing Day. Aug. 20, 2020:Ford government announces it is extending the emergency pandemic orders until Sept. 22. [35], Due to the surge of new infections, Premier Ford issued a second declaration of emergency on January 12. Metrolinx, which manages transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, announces further reduced service for GO Transit after a 90 per cent drop in ridership. The office of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney declined the request, citing its own impact by the third wave. 7, 2021: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto launches an initiative calling on the Ontario government to amend capacity restrictions for places of worship. 10, 2021: The province announces that 325 pharmacies in Toronto, Windsor-Essex, and Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington will begin providing COVID-19 vaccinations using the newly-approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. No fines are laid. In addition, between March 28 and April 5, 2021, Ontario has seen the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care escalate by 25 per cent. Citizens are being asked to stay at home and practice social and physical distancing as much as possible. By April 9, 29 residents, along with a spouse of a resident, would die of COVID-19 complications. Dec. 14, 2020:The Ford government announces that COVID-19tests will no longer be free for people requiring proof of a negative test for international travel destinations. [72] Also on the same day, the Minister of Health admitted that the province had not met its deadline to vaccinate all long-term care homes, after mistakenly announcing that it had. 23, 2021: Ontarios COVID-19 Science Advisory Table recommends redirecting more vaccines to hot spots in the province which it says will help reduce case counts, hospitalizations and deaths. Ontario Government Issued Photo ID must also be presented in both phases. Stores and non-essential businesses may be closed or may have reduced hours. Sept. 26, 2020: Huge crowds take over the Town of Wasaga Beachfor a car rally despite provincial gathering restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Apr. 4/10. Oct. 31, 2020:Ontario reports 1,015 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases across the province to 75,730. 14, 2021: Government officials continue to insist the provincesCOVID-19vaccine rollout is being impacted by shipment delays amid news of clinics being shut down due to lack of supply. She becomes the first case to be resolved in Ontario (and Canada). In doing so, it now has the dubious distinction of being the deadliest COVID-19 outbreak the province has seen since the pandemic began. They will now continue until May 19, which will extend them past Victoria Day weekend. June 15, 2020:Province announces that several regions including Durham, York, Hamilton, Sarnia-Lambton and Niagara are allowed to enter into Stage 2 of its recovery plan. April 27, 2020: Ford provides the framework in which he will reopen the province although he does not commit to a date for when it will get underway. Jan. 5, 2021:News emerges that Dr. Tom Stewart, CEO of St. Josephs Health System and a member of the provinces COVID-19 advisory table travelled to the Caribbean over the holidays. Answer Charles Taze Russell was the founder of a religion that eventually became the modern-day Jehovah's Witnesses. Oct. 28, 2020:GoodLife Fitness sends an email to 175,000 people urging them to lobby Ontario MPPs as the province begins to close them in the wake of a rising tide of new COVID-19 cases. March 14, 2020:Canadians who are out of the country are strongly urged by the federal government to return home as new restrictions may be imposed with little warning. Previously, the feds had urged Canadians to cancel or postpone non-essential trips. Feb. 3, 2021: Lecce announced that a large portion of students in southern Ontario who remain out of school will be allowed to return the following Monday. Dec. 9, 2020:Pfizerscoronavirus vaccine is officially approved for use in Canada, with limited rollout set to begin to priority groups within days.. [149], On April 16,[150] Premier Ford requested assistance from Alberta, including access to health care workers. This comes as. 13, 2021: Ontario says it will add hundreds of critical care beds this week to help with an influx ofCOVID-19cases that is pushing the health-care system to the brink. This is a record number of new cases and the first time the province has announced more than 1,900 new cases in one day. There was a massive drop in things like colds when lockdown started because it wasn't being transmitted, but there was an even bigger spike in people getting seriously knocked down by them when lockdown ended because their immune . 29, 2021: Elliott receives a shot of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on camera Monday morning in an effort to assuage concerns about the vaccine. Thirty-eightare considered primary (36 members and 2 employees) and nine secondary. on April 5, 2021. The total cumulative number of cases reaches 60,692. [111], On April 1, amid rising infections exacerbated by variants of concern, Premier Ford announced a third province-wide shutdown beginning April 3. [ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]. Dec. 5, 2020:Ontario reports 1,859 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 125,385. A total of 2,407 Ontarians have now suffered COVID-19-related deaths. Feb. 9, 2021: Global News confirms that the province has developed an online portal for for eventual mass vaccination appointments.. [69][70][71] The response framework will also allow non-essential retail to operate with a 25 percent capacity limit if a region is under the grey "Lockdown" tier. Dec. 17, 2020: Ontario Hospital Association says it is urging the government to implement a four-week lockdown in every public health unit with an infection rate of 40/100,000 population or higher. May 1, 2020: Ontario government announces that some seasonal businesses (including nurseries) and some essential construction projects can open on May 4 if they follow strict guidelines. March 30, 2020:The province orders the shutdown of all outdoor amenities while also extending the emergency order through April 12. It's officially one year since Boris Johnson announced the first UK-wide coronavirus lockdown on 23 March 2020. Ahead of April 12, this comes next Monday (Easter Monday). More than 3.79 million people in England deemed clinically extremely . Live updates Coronavirus in Canada. A lengthy list of other businesses will be allowed to get underway the following Tuesday. Oct. 6, 2020:Christopher Saccoccia, also known as Chris Sky, and 34-year-old Jennifer Saccoccia are both charged with failure to comply with an order prohibiting or subjecting to any condition the entry into Canada. A show featuring parodies of current events, commentary on. Toronto, Peel Region and North Bay-Parry Sound will remain in lockdown for another two weeks. The provincial total now stands at 403,571, surpassing the 400,000 mark. Oct. 3, 2020:New restrictions placed on restaurants, bars, banquet halls and gyms in Ottawa, Toronto and Peel Region. 3, 2021: Ontario reports 17 more COVID-19-related deaths, pushing the provincial total past the 7,000 milestone to 7,014. And as things change, as we learn more about these deadly new variants, as we see new problems arise, we need to adapt. June 24, 2020:Ontario government extends emergency orders until July 15. Leamington and Kingsville left in Stage 1. 12, 2021: Lecce announces that Ontario students will be staying in remote learning indefinitely following the April Break once again. [157] It was announced by the province that Ford was isolating due being a close contact of a positive case within his staff. Jan. 4, 2021:Anita Quidangen, a health-care worker in Toronto, becomes the first person in Ontario to receive a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine is the only approved vaccine to require one dose. Oct. 8, 2020:The province reports 797 new cases of the novel coronavirus. Sept. 27, 2020:Western University in London, Ont., says at least 28 of its students have tested positive for the coronavirus. In mid-May, the Ontario government revealed its three-phase reopening plan for the entire province. Nov. 9, 2020:The province announces1,242 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the provincial total to 85,395. Jan. 16, 2021:The Ontario government extends the window for the second dose of COVID-19vaccinations in order to account forPfizer-BioNtechshipment and delivery delays. "Friends, we're facing a very, very serious situation," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on . Toronto, York, Peel and North Bay-Parry Sound remain in lockdown. July 24, 2020:Hamilton, the regions of York, Durham, Halton and Niagara as well as the counties of Haldimand, Horfolk and Lambton are allowed to enter Stage 3 of the provinces reopening plan. Mar. He then calls 911 and is placed in isolation at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. On March 24, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a complete lockdown of the entire nation for 21 days in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Nov. 3, 2020:The province introduces a new five-tiered, colour-coded system for determining how it will regulate areas when during the COVID-19 pandemic. May 19, 2020:TheOntario governmentsays an in-class school year will not be able to recommence during the coronavirus pandemic, however, online learning will continue. The lockdown will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 26 and remain in place until at least Jan. 23, 2021 in the 27 public health units that comprise southern Ontario, the government says. May 4, 2021: Ontario government issues a new directive for the provinces long-term care homes that will seeCOVID-19restrictions eased after a high uptake of vaccinations. The second phase being using a COVID-19 Vaccine Passport System in Ontario, which would show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination using QR codes either printed on paper, or stored digitally using a smartphone, would be mandatory province wide beginning as of October 22. Lockdown / restrictions introduced Lockdown restrictions eased PM / government announcements Legislation / emergency powers 8 March Planned return to school for primary and secondary school students in . On December 17, Premier Doug Ford announced that the province will move into step 3.5 including the lowering of capacity limits in more non essential businesses and the lowering the gathering sizes to 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. The scene would be repeated at long-term care homes across the province. Dec. 29, 2020:The province reports 2,553 new positive tests for COVID-19, raising the total number of cases in Ontario to 175,908. Government says that it cut back on administering doses over holidays to prevent staffing shortages in hospitals and long-term-care homes. Mar. Apr. [193] A day later, officials confirmed that another 254,500 doses were scheduled to be delivered the next week. [146] The selection of the areas faced criticism over its methodology, including its inclusion of several sortation areas that did not actually have high rates of COVID-19 cases and/or hospitalizations,[147] On April 11, the province recorded its single largest day of new cases to-date, at 4,456. [332], On October 22, the Ontario government had announced a timeline roadmap plan to lift restrictions in Ontario.