COVID 19: New measures added for bars and restaurants entering Stage 3

🕒 2.5 min read

Toronto entered Stage 3 today, which allows restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments to relaunch dine-in service after being ordered to close on March 17, 2020.

As businesses re-open dining rooms and indoor seating, new amendments have been added to the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 by The Ontario government, in consultation with the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health, to “further protect the health of Ontarians as the Province continues to re-open under Stage 3.”

These include:

1/ All patrons will be required to be seated at all times, in both indoor and outdoor areas, with limited exceptions.

2/ Bars and restaurants (and also tour boat operators) in Ontario will be required to keep client logs for a period of 30 days and to disclose the client logs to the medical officer of health or an inspector under the Health Protection and Promotion Act on request, which will support case and contact tracing. 

In addition to these amendments, separating tables by at least two metres or placing impenetrable barriers between them, limited indoor capacity, and other restrictions and protocols put in place by the government, continue.

Wearing a mask or face covering in indoor public spaces, including restaurants and bars is also mandatory now, as per the Mandatory Mask or Face Covering Bylaw (under City of Toronto By-Law 541-2020). Masks may be removed while drinking or eating, but must be worn for the duration of your stay, as well as upon entering and exiting the establishment. 

Stay tuned for more updates on newly opened dining rooms and other Stage 3 news.

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