On Friday, October 9, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced that it introduced additional, targeted public health measures in the Ottawa, Peel, and Toronto public health unit regions. The announcement sets out new measures applicable to food and drink establishments, casinos, bingo halls, other gaming establishments and horseracing tracks in the three regions. Events held using a Special Occasion Permit in the three regions are also impacted.
Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments (including nightclubs) in the three regions are prohibited from offering indoor food and drink service. Establishments may continue to offer outdoor food and drink service and takeout and delivery, including the sale of alcohol with a food order for takeout or delivery. Events held in a food and drink establishment using a Special Occasion Permit must abide by the prohibition on indoor food and drink service.
Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments in these regions must close.
Spectator areas in racing venues must close. This applies to horseracing tracks in these three regions.
These modified Stage 2 restrictions are effective as of 12:01 am on Saturday, October 10 and will be in place for a minimum of 28 days.
Under these new measures, meeting and event spaces have reduced capacity limits of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, in line with other gathering limits. Effective at 12:01 am on Tuesday, October 13, wedding receptions are also subject to the new capacity limits of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors at event spaces. Special Occasion Permit events must follow this measure.
Liquor sales licensed establishments, casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments, horseracing tracks and venues hosting Special Occasion Permit events that are not located in Ottawa, Peel and Toronto will not be affected by these new measures. Licensees, operators and permit holders must continue to meet all existing legislative and regulatory requirements.
For more information about other public health measures enacted by the government, please consult this site detailing the stages of reopening.