Sector-Specific Business Guidelines for Reopening

Employers may refer to more sector-specific guidance provided by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and industry partners to determine what types of preventive measures may be appropriate for particular workplace settings.

Sectors

• Child care facilities
  • Emergency child care centres for eligible essential workers identified by the provincial government
  • Home child care services of up to six children are allowed
  • Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency Child Care Centres
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace

  For more information, call the Info-Line at 905-688-8248 press 7, then press 3 or toll-free at 1-888-505-6074.

• Community gardens

  Community gardens are allowed to reopen.

  • Ministry of Health COVID-19 Advice
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace
  • General public health measures for essential businesses

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Conservation reserves and provincial parks

  Conservation reserves and provincial parks have been permitted to reopen for limited day-use access only.
  
  Recreational activities will be limited to walking, hiking, biking, boating, paddling and fishing. Camping and other activities are prohibited. Playgrounds are closed.
  
  All buildings and washrooms, water taps, back country campsites and roofed accomodations are closed and no group activities will be allowed.

  • Conservation and fisheries workers
  • Ontario Parks
  • Parks Canada

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Construction
  • All construction work has now been deemed essential
  • Infrastructure Health and Safety Association
• Dental offices
  • Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
  • College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
  • Public Health Ontario
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace
• Funeral homes

  Funeral services are considered an essential service.

  Only 10 people at one time, indoors or outdoors, are allowed on funeral home property and at grave sites. This doesn't include staff.

  The funeral home must be large enough for people to maintain physical distancing of at least 2 metres apart from each other at all times, to a maximum of 10 people in the entire funeral home establishment at one time. The public is not allowed to witness in-person cremations.

  • Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Funeral and Bereavement Services
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace
  • Bereavement Authority of Ontario

  For more information, call the Info-Line at 905-688-8248 press 7, then press 3 or toll-free at 1-888-505-6074.

• Garden centres and nurseries
  Deemed an essential service and permitted to open if they meet provincial guidelines and follow public health measures.
  
  

  • General public health measures for essential businesses
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Golf courses
  Golf courses and outdoor driving ranges are permitted to reopen if they follow provincial guidelines and public health measures.
  
  

  • List of essential workplaces
  • General public health measures for essential businesses
  • Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Food Premise
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Gyms and fitness facilities

  Closed based on provincial guidelines.

• Hotels

  Hotels, motels and other shared rental accomodations, including student residences are allowed to operate.

  Hotels must close their pools, fitness centres, meeting rooms and other recreational facilities that are part of their operations.

  • General public health measures for essential businesses
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace
• Indoor recreation (casinos, bingo halls, theatres, museums)

  Closed based on provincial guidelines.

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Libraries

  Public libraries are open for pick-up and delivery only. They are to stay closed for public access.

  • General public health measures for essential businesses

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Marinas, boat clubs and docking facilities

  These facilities are deemed an essential service so long as they follow provincial guidelines and public health measures.

  • List of essential workplaces
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace
  • General public health measures for essential businesses

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Medical services (physiotherapy, optometry, podiatry, occupational therapy and chiropractic treatment, etc.)
  • List of essential workplaces

  Contact your affiliated college / board / association for specific COVID-19 guidelines, and infection prevention and control requirements.

• Office settings
  • List of essential workplaces
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace
  • General public health measures for essential businesses

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Outdoor recreation (pools, municipal parks and playgrounds)

  Closed based on provincial guidelines.

  For more information, contact your local municipality.
• Personal service settings (hairdressing, salons, tattooing, etc.)

  Closed based on provincial guidelines.

  For more information, call the Info-Line at 905-688-8248 press 7, then press 3 or toll-free at 1-888-505-6074.

• Real estate agents
  Real estate agent services are permitted.
  
  Businesses that provide real estate agent services are prohibited from hosting, providing or supporting any open house events.
  
  

  • Real Estate Council of Ontario
  • Ontario Real Estate Association
  • General public health measures for essential businesses
• Restaurants and food
  • Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Food Premise
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace

  For more information, call the Info-Line at 905-688-8248 press 7, then press 3 or toll-free at 1-888-505-6074.

• Retail (clothing, furniture, bookstores, pet groomers, sport stores, music stores)
  Businesses that retail or rent items to the public and have a public entrance that opens onto a street or exterior sidewalk are permitted to reopen.
  
  Malls are not permitted to reopen.
  
  Businesses must follow provincial guidelines and public health measures.
  
  

  • List of essential workplaces
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace
  • General public health measures for essential businesses

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Seasonal campgrounds

  Seasonal campgrounds have been permitted to reopen as long as they meet these requirements.

  • Campsites are made available only for trailers and recreational vehicles that are either:
    • Used by individuals who do not have another residence in Canada and are in need of housing during the emergency period
    • Permitted to be there by the terms of a full season contract
  • Only campsites with electricity, water and facilities for sewage disposal are provided for use
  • All recreational facilities in the campground and all other shared facilities in the campground (such as washrooms) are closed
  • Other areas of the seasonal campground are closed to the general public and are only opened for the purpose of preparing the seasonal campground for reopening

  Short-term rentals in rental accommodations booked after April 4, 2020 must only be provided to individuals who are in need of housing during the emergency period

  • List of essential workplaces
  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 In the Workplace
  • General public health measures for essential businesses
  • Ontario Parks
  • Parks Canada

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Schools, colleges and universities

  All publicly funded schools are closed for the rest of the 2019/2020 school year. All private schools are closed until further notice.

  Many colleges and universities have voluntarily closed and opted for online learning.

  • General public health measures for essential businesses
• Seasonal programming (camps, recreational and athletic activities)

  Closed based on provincial guidelines.

  For more information, contact your local municipality.

• Veterinarian and pet services

  Veterinarians can perform other services in addition to emergencies.

  Pet services, including grooming, sitting, walking, training, and services that train or provide service animals, are allowed.

  Boarding kennels and stables may allow owners to visit, help care for, or feed and ride their animals

  • Province of Ontario Guidance to Prevent COVID-19 in the Workplace
  • General public health measures for essential businesses
• Zoos and animal exhibits

  Closed based on provincial guidelines.

  For more information, call the Info-Line at 905-688-8248 press 7, then press 3 or toll-free at 1-888-505-6074.

COVID-19

Reopening Businesses

• Public Health Measures
• Business Guidelines
• Cleaning and Disinfecting
• Resources