Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health has rubberstamped the province’s decision to allow the reopening of a number of businesses and places of worship, and the further relaxation of social distancing guidelines.
Dr. David Colby agreed that the following operations may resume service as early as Friday:
- Outdoor dining areas
- Services within a place of worship, with no more than 30 per cent capacity
- Select personal and personal-care services with the proper health and safety measures in place, including tattoo parlours, barber shops, hair and beauty salons that do not provide services that tend to the face
- Childcare centres with the proper health and safety measures in place
- Beach access and camping at provincial parks and private campgrounds
- Tour and guide services
- Shopping malls under existing restrictions, with food services reopening for take-out and outdoor dining only
- Outdoor-only recreational facilities and training for outdoor team sports, with physical distancing in place
- Drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural attractions, with individuals remaining in their vehicles at all times
- Weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people
As well, CK Public Health endorses the provincial decision to increase the limit of social gatherings to 10 people, with physical distancing measures.
Some municipal services/local businesses may choose not to reopen at this time, at their discretion. Businesses should only reopen if they have proper health and safety measures in place.
“As restrictions are eased, we must continue to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet at all times” Colby said in a media release.
He has additionally ordered that the following services remain closed:
- Municipally operated pools
- Splash pads will remain closed until play structures are permitted to open
- Day camps
- Other types of organized activity that allow close proximity of children and youth to each other
“Keeping pools, splash pads and day camps closed at this time is to protect the health and safety of children and vulnerable people as physical distancing will be impossible to maintain in these settings,” Colby said.
A detailed list, along with the additional local directives, can be found on the Closure Updates page of CK Public Health’s COVID-19 website at www.ckpublichealth.com/covid19.
