After months of enduring the stay-at-home order in Toronto, there’s finally a chance that it’ll be lifted. As of Monday, March 8th at 12:01 AM, our city could be moving into the grey zone of Ontario’s colour-coded reopening framework. The news is a little light at the end of the tunnel for many citizens who have been experiencing COVID-19 fatigue. But what exactly does it mean?
Well, we’re here to break it down for you. At its basics, the grey zone isn’t actually all too different from what we’re experiencing right now. We know, we know, we’re tired too. But with safety in mind, this could be our best bet.
A number of the current COVID-19 regulations will remain the same or similar. But there are a few that will change.
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Toronto likely headed to grey zone of reopening framework next week, mayor sayshttps://t.co/TFc8Ds9ezV pic.twitter.com/mlyibOUVtn
— CP24 (@CP24) March 5, 2021
The first notable different between stay-at-home orders and the grey zone is the number of people allowed to gather outdoors. With the shift to colour-coded, that number goes from five to ten. As long as physical distancing is possible, that is.
The main difference in the retail sector is that shopping malls will now be able to open. They will, of course, have restrictions like limited capacity and mandatory masks. But that’s to be expected.
We’ll also see changes in which amenities are allowed to function. Things like day camps and golf courses, which are not permitted under stay-at-home, will be allowed to go on in the grey zone.
Finally, libraries will be allowed to open with limited capacity. Plus, vet services and domestic services will have loosened regulations.
To read the full details of what the grey zone in Toronto would entail, be sure to check out the city’s breakdown right here. The possibility of the switch is still under consideration, so we’ll be keeping our eyes glued to the news for more updates.
Stay healthy, people.
