Hamilton moves back to COVID-19 red zone today
- Michael Kras
- 16 Feb 2021
Following a weeks-long stay-at-home order from the provincial government, Hamilton has been moved out of lockdown and is back in the Red-Control category of Ontario’s COVID-19 reopening framework.
The move into the red zone, which went into effect on Tuesday morning at 12 am, will see some restrictions and closures relaxed around the city while still representing the strongest level of restrictions short of a lockdown.
Hamilton is in the CONTROL (Red) stage within the provincial COVID-19 Opening Framework. This has implications for how businesses in our community operate: https://t.co/ZVYiBBaXgQ #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/nSgh4zd9dh
— City of Hamilton (@cityofhamilton) February 16, 2021
In the red zone, limits for organized public events and social gatherings are set at a maximum of 5 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Restaurants, bars, and cafes are allowed to reopen with a limit of 10 patrons indoor at one time, with masks required when not eating or drinking.
Sports and other recreational facilities such as gyms are also allowed to reopen with capacity limits, capped at 10 people in an indoor area with weights and exercise machines, 10 people for any indoor classes, and 25 people for outdoor classes.
Personal care services such as salons, spas, and barber shops are allowed to reopen with the usual safety measures in place such as mask-wearing.
In additional, non-essential retail stores are permitted to reopen for in-person shopping, with health screening measures and capacity limits in place. Grocery stores and pharmacies are allowed to have a maximum capacity of 75 per cent, and other retail – including big box stores – is capped at 50 per cent.
Hamilton’s move back into the COVID-19 red zone has certainly been met with some caution and skepticism. Even Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the city’s medical officer of health, has publicly said the move into lessened restrictions feels “rather quick;” especially in the face of new, more contagious COVID-19 variants circulating in Ontario.
That same caution is expressed by Dr. Richardson in a release from the city.
“Hamilton Public Health Services is very concerned about the circulation of the new COVID-19 variants in our community, and know it is just a matter of time until one is confirmed here. We are working hard to fight COVID-19 by administering as many doses of the COVD-19 vaccine to as many residents as possible, and we need the help of the community more than ever,” said Dr. Richardson.
“We must move forward into the Red Category mindfully. It is vital that in order to stop a third wave of this virus, all members of the community continue to stay at home, avoid social gatherings, limit close contacts to your household, and only travel between regions if it is essential. We still have many critical milestones to reach before we are through this pandemic. Together, we will get through this.”
Read more about the city’s move into the red zone here.
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