On Tuesday, January 12th, Doug Ford announced a provincial stay-at-home order in addition to new restrictions to non-essential trips outside the home.
“Our province is in crisis,” Premier Doug Ford said as part of the announcement.
Regarding avoiding non-essential travel Doug continued, “I know essential means different things to different people …so we need everyone to use their best judgment. If you’re not sure if a trip is absolutely essential, it probably isn’t.”
The new restrictions will take effect as of 12:01am on Thursday, January 14.
There are new restrictions for the construction industry with some specific exceptions.
Exceptions exist that allow the servicing and installation of onsite wastewater management systems (below is from the province’s document, ‘Enhancing Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures in the Provincewide Shutdown’). Under the section “Businesses, organizations and services permitted to open under the Provincewide Shutdown and any sector-specific public health and workplace safety measures”, the ‘Construction Sector’:
Residential construction projects where,
- a footing permit has been granted for single family, semi-detached and townhomes
- the project is a condominium, mixed use or other residential building, or
- the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before January 12, 2021.
Construction to prepare a site for an institutional, commercial, industrial or residential development, including any necessary excavation, grading, roads or utilities infrastructure.
(pg. 24)
In addition, under the ‘Community services sector’:
Businesses that deliver or support the delivery of community services including:
- Sewage treatment and disposal
- Collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste
(pg. 25)
Remember, the only way we can beat COVID 19 and get back to normal is by following directives from all levels of government and our local public health agencies.
Stay safe and healthy out there!
