{"id":12249,"date":"2020-04-18T04:08:06","date_gmt":"2020-04-18T08:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/?p=12249"},"modified":"2020-05-21T11:12:32","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T15:12:32","slug":"gatherings-restricted-schools-closed-whats-being-done-to-fight-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/gatherings-restricted-schools-closed-whats-being-done-to-fight-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Gatherings restricted, schools closed: What’s being done to fight COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every province and territory.\u00a0Canada’s chief public health officer and her provincial counterparts are encouraging\u00a0people to wash their hands,\u00a0give each other space\u00a0and wear a mask if they are sick or a homemade one if they believe they could have been exposed to the virus and are not showing any symptoms.<\/p>\n

Ottawa\u00a0has put money into\u00a0health-care research and the economy. It has also put restrictions on international travel and is mandating 14-day quarantines for travellers returning to Canada to try to limit spread of the novel coronavirus.<\/p>\n

Classes are suspended or cancelled at schools throughout the country.<\/p>\n

Each province and territory also has its own emergency measures to detect cases and prevent spread of the virus.<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at some of the ways different jurisdictions\u00a0are responding:<\/p>\n

British Columbia<\/strong><\/p>\n

B.C. declared a provincial state of emergency on March 18, a day after\u00a0announcing a public health emergency, and it has been\u00a0extended\u00a0to April 28.<\/p>\n

The measure\u00a0gives the province authority to take any action necessary to protect people and communities, including charging people who ignore public health orders.<\/p>\n

The province has also prohibited reselling essential supplies such as food and cleaning material.<\/p>\n

All parking fees at B.C. hospitals have been cancelled during the pandemic to ensure safer access for patients and staff.<\/p>\n

Officials have prohibited gatherings of more than 50 people in one place, including restaurants, schools, places of worship, theatres, casinos, sports arenas and outdoor venues.<\/p>\n

That\u00a0has forced the cancellation of\u00a0the annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival\u00a0in June.<\/p>\n

All\u00a0provincial parks are\u00a0also closed.<\/p>\n

The Vancouver park board says cars are being banned from most roads in Stanley Park to give cyclists, walkers and joggers more room.<\/p>\n

Officials have also issued fire restrictions as the wildfire season begins.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Alberta<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alberta declared a public health emergency on March 17.<\/p>\n

The province has given law enforcement agencies full authority to enforce orders and issue fines for violations.<\/p>\n

There are restrictions on mass gatherings of more than\u00a015 people, both\u00a0indoors and outdoors at places of worship, weddings or funerals. Any gathering must allow people to keep the two-metre distance from others.<\/p>\n

All non-essential businesses have been ordered closed, including personal service providers, clothing stores and furniture stores.<\/p>\n

Albertans are prohibited from attending public or private recreational and entertainment facilities. Restaurants have been ordered closed, except for takeout or delivery. Casinos are closed.<\/p>\n

Vehicle access to provincial parks and public lands is prohibited to visitors.<\/p>\n

Albertans who have been ordered to quarantine cannot leave their property for 14 days. And if they live in apartment buildings they are not allowed to use the elevators.<\/p>\n

There’s also a new restriction on visitors\u00a0at nursing homes, long-term care facilities and hospitals \u2014 although exceptions could be made if a child is in hospital or a woman is about to give birth.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Saskatchewan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Premier Scott Moe declared a provincial state of emergency on March\u00a018.<\/p>\n

It directs all orders from the chief medical health officer be followed and gives police the authority to enforce them.<\/p>\n

Public gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people.<\/p>\n

Nightclubs, bars and lounges are closed, but they are allowed to provide takeout food or alcohol.<\/p>\n

Recreational and entertainment facilities are closed. Personal service providers\u00a0such as tattoists, hairdressers, estheticians and relaxation masseuses cannot operate.<\/p>\n

Dental, optometrist, chiropractic and podiatry clinics are closed \u2014 except for emergencies.<\/p>\n

Saskatchewan\u00a0has updated its public health orders to say long-term and personal care homes should ensure staff only work at one facility.<\/p>\n

All employees at long-term care facilities are having their temperatures checked and are being monitored for COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Health officials say there’s no evidence livestock or pets can be infected with or transmit COVID-19, but it hasn’t been ruled out. They suggest anyone with the virus avoid contact with animals, as well as people,\u00a0until more information is available.<\/p>\n

The Saskatchewan government is promising one-time emergency bursaries to post-secondary students whose studies and jobs have been affected the pandemic.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Manitoba<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Manitoba government declared a provincewide state of emergency on March 20.<\/p>\n

The province has limited public gatherings\u00a0to no more than\u00a010 people.<\/p>\n

That\u00a0includes any indoor or outdoor spot, places of worship or family events such as weddings and funerals.<\/p>\n

No visitors are allowed in long-term care facilities and hospitals, though exceptions may be made in hospitals for compassionate reasons.<\/p>\n

Public events marking the province’s 150th birthday have been postponed and the long running Dauphin Countryfest is cancelled this year.<\/p>\n

The province is instituting fines for people who don’t follow public safety orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Non-essential travel to the province’s north and to remote communities is being restricted to help\u00a0reduce the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

There are some exceptions, including for people who travel for medical care or work, people who share child custody, and people who deliver goods and services.<\/p>\n

Non-essential businesses\u00a0have been ordered to\u00a0close. Salons, spas, bars and other establishments were closed as of April 1. Restaurants can remain open for takeout or delivery only.<\/p>\n

The closures do not affect health-care facilities, government services and other institutions.<\/p>\n

Bingo and gaming venues as\u00a0well as wellness centres and gyms are closed.<\/p>\n

The province\u00a0is letting people hurt by the COVID-19 economic fallout avoid penalties and interest on some utility payments and property taxes. There’s also a freeze on all rent increases until at least May 31.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Ontario<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ontario has extended its state of emergency for another 28 days.<\/p>\n

The order closes non-essential businesses and child-care centres until May 12.<\/p>\n

Premier Doug Ford says Ontario’s schools will not re-open on May 4.<\/p>\n

All business except those deemed essential have been shut down.<\/p>\n

The province will allow curbside pick up and delivery of cannabis.<\/p>\n

All industrial construction except for essential projects, such as hospitals, has been halted.<\/p>\n

All bars and restaurants, except for takeout and delivery, have been closed.<\/p>\n

Also closed are\u00a0recreational facilities, public libraries, private schools, licensed child-care centres, movie theatres and concert venues.<\/p>\n

Any public events of more than five people, including parades, events and services at places of worship, are prohibited, and provincial parks are closed.<\/p>\n

The City of Toronto has also\u00a0closed playgrounds, sports fields, off-leash dog parks, skateboard parks and picnic areas. Parking lots attached to parks\u00a0are closed.<\/p>\n

The province says it will also\u00a0quadruple COVID-19 testing capacity to 16,000 by May 6.<\/p>\n

On April 17 the province expanded eligibility for free emergency child care to include workers in developmental services, victim services, violence against women services, children’s aid societies, probation and parole officers and\u00a0staff in homeless shelters. The program was initially set up for health-care workers, first responders and correctional officers.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Quebec<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quebec declared a public health emergency on March 13 and renewed it a week later.<\/p>\n

The government has reduced non-priority services and prohibited indoor and outdoor gatherings.<\/p>\n

All festivals, sporting and cultural events scheduled for this summer\u00a0are cancelled or postponed.<\/p>\n

Tennis Canada says the Rogers Cup women’s tennis tournament scheduled for Aug. 7 to 16 in Montreal\u00a0will return to\u00a0the city\u00a0in August 2021.<\/p>\n

Police set up checkpoints curtailing access to\u00a0eight remote regions. All non-essential travel to\u00a0much of\u00a0cottage country north of Montreal, and to Charlevoix, northeast of Quebec City is also banned.<\/p>\n

Quebec has prohibited non-essential visits to hospitals, residential and long-term care centres or between children in foster families and their biological families.<\/p>\n

Designated clinics have been opened\u00a0for anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms.<\/p>\n

To give retail employees a break, stores are closed on Sundays in April, with only pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores and takeout restaurants remaining open on those days.<\/p>\n

Montreal’s mayor has also declared a state of emergency to help authorities better manage the spread of COVID-19 among the city’s homeless.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

New Brunswick<\/strong><\/p>\n

A state of emergency was declared in New Brunswick on March 19.<\/p>\n

Businesses serving food and beverages have been restricted to takeout and delivery. Lounges and clubs are forbidden from allowing customers to enter.<\/p>\n

Customers are not allowed to enter retail businesses, unless they serve food, medication, fuel or other essential supplies.<\/p>\n

Many health services \u2014 such as chiropractors, dentists and optometrists \u2014 are prohibited from seeing patients in person unless absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n

No gatherings larger than 10 people are allowed and residents are urged to stay home as much as possible. They are also asked to delay non-essential errands.<\/p>\n

Any unnecessary travel into New Brunswick is prohibited.<\/p>\n

All playgrounds in the province are closed, but some public parks and walking trails remain open as long as physical distancing measures are followed.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Nova Scotia<\/strong><\/p>\n

The province of Nova Scotia declared a state of emergency on March 22 and it has been extended to April 19.<\/p>\n

It set out a 14-day rule for self-isolation and self-quarantine for people returning from outside Canada.<\/p>\n

All schools and daycares are closed.\u00a0Long-term care facilities and\u00a0care homes\u00a0are closed to visitors.<\/p>\n

Casinos have closed and no business is allowed to operate a video lottery terminal.<\/p>\n

Restaurants are restricted to takeout and delivery service only. Drinking establishments are closed.<\/p>\n

There are also restrictions on health professionals such as chiropractors and dentists.<\/p>\n

Two mobile assessment centres have been established to do community-based testing.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Prince Edward Island<\/strong><\/p>\n

Premier Dennis King declared a public health emergency on March 16.<\/p>\n

It included an order to Islanders to refrain from attending any public gatherings and a closure of\u00a0libraries, child-care facilities, gyms and schools.<\/p>\n

Hospitals have restricted visitors \u2014 although one visitor is\u00a0allowed at a time to see patients in palliative care, intensive care, neonatal intensive care, obstetric and pediatric units.<\/p>\n

All long-term care facilities continue to fully restrict visitors.<\/p>\n

Measures\u00a0also include\u00a0fines for anyone who doesn’t comply with a direction to self-isolate.<\/p>\n

The public health officer recommends people who\u00a0are self-isolating stay on their own property when outside.<\/p>\n

The government is working to open an out-patient clinic to allow for increased testing and to ease the load on\u00a0hospitals.<\/p>\n

Officials have also deferred provincial property tax and fee payments until the end of the year.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Newfoundland and Labrador<\/strong><\/p>\n

The province declared a public health emergency on March 18.<\/p>\n

It includes the closure\u00a0of most businesses \u2014 with the exception of grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and other stores considered essential.<\/p>\n

Gatherings of more than 10 people are not allowed. That includes funerals and weddings.<\/p>\n

Anyone arriving from outside the province is required to self-isolate for 14 days.<\/p>\n

Health officials have the authority to restrict the rights and freedoms of people in a time of crisis. People who violate orders face fines.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Yukon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yukon declared a state of emergency on March 27.<\/p>\n

The government has placed enforcement officers at the Whitehorse airport and at its boundaries to get details of travellers’\u00a0self-isolation plans, their contact information and to\u00a0look for any symptoms of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Yukon residents flying into Canada with COVID-19 symptoms must quarantine at their arrival destination, and those\u00a0without symptoms are ordered to\u00a0self-isolate for 14 days when they get home.<\/p>\n

Yukon has asked\u00a0everyone arriving\u00a0in the territory, including mine workers,\u00a0to self-isolate for 14 days.<\/p>\n

Yukon beefed up its border control measure on April 17, giving enforcement officers the authority to deny non-essential travellers from entering.<\/p>\n

The government has closed bars and limited social gatherings to 10 people or less.<\/p>\n

Recreation facilities, libraries, museums and visitor centres\u00a0are closed.<\/p>\n

Long-term care facilities are closed to visitors and volunteers, while all non-urgent or routine services, including lab tests, X-rays, physiotherapy and occupational therapy are suspended.<\/p>\n

All dentists\u00a0must also suspend non-urgent treatment until further notice.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Northwest Territories<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Northwest Territories declared a public health emergency on March 18, which has now been upgraded to a state of emergency.<\/p>\n

It requires anyone who arrives in the territory from outside its boundary to self-isolate for 14 days.<\/p>\n

Travel through all points of entry into the territory \u2014 both air and road \u2014 is prohibited.<\/p>\n

The orders exclude essential service workers such as medical professionals or emergency services.<\/p>\n

The territory has asked that all indoor and outdoor gatherings be cancelled\u00a0\u2014 regardless of size or number.<\/p>\n

Many businesses, including tour operators, gyms, museums and theatres, have been ordered to close.<\/p>\n

The government\u00a0has said it\u00a0will help Indigenous families who want to head out on the land as an alternative to physical distancing. It will provide a $2.6-million grant to help families buy the proper gear and supplies to head out to fishing and hunting camps.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Nunavut<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nunavut declared a public health emergency on March 20.<\/p>\n

It has no known cases of COVID-19, but it has restrictions in place.<\/p>\n

There is\u00a0a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period at one of four locations in southern Canada for any resident that wants to return to Nunavut.<\/p>\n

Critical employees who need to return to work must apply for an exemption.<\/p>\n

All non-essential medical travel has been cancelled.<\/p>\n

Public gatherings, including at playgrounds or parks and at religious, cultural or spiritual services is prohibited.<\/p>\n

School staff in Iqaluit are working to ensure students in the\u00a0capital of Nunavut\u00a0don’t go hungry because of\u00a0closed classrooms. They’re continuing to provide breakfasts to children in a way that follows physical distancing rules.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Sources: Provincial and territorial government websites<\/p>\n

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2020<\/p>\n

The Canadian Press<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every province and territory.\u00a0Canada’s chief public health officer and her provincial counterparts are encouraging\u00a0people to wash their hands,\u00a0give each other space\u00a0and wear a mask if they are sick or a homemade one if they believe they could have been exposed to the virus and are not showing any symptoms. Ottawa\u00a0has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12250,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[120,162,161,157],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12249"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12249"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16453,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12249\/revisions\/16453"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airpurifierspecialist.com\/store\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}