COVID-19 Update: What Do the Zones Mean in Ontario

As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario has taken on a zone system in which specific geographic areas have different regulations depending on their case numbers. 

The Zones

The different zones in Ontario are Green, Yellow, Orange, Red and Grey. No matter what Zone your geographical area is in, if you ever have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you should stay home, maintain a 2-meter distance from others and get tested. 

In all zones, social distancing, mask wearing and limiting the number of people you interact with is advised. 

AccqSleepLabs and COVID-19 Ontario Zones

AccqSleepLabs is happy to be providing Sleep Medicine physician consultation and follow up appointments via Telemedicine. Our Diagnostic Laboratory Services and Overnight Sleep Studies do continue to be offered at all three of our locations. We get all patients to complete a COVID19 screening survey and ask that you do not come to your appointment if you have symptoms, have been travelling outside Canada or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. You can find more information about AccqSleepLabs here.

Green Zone - Prevent

The “Green Zone” is all about prevention of the spread of covid. Social gatherings are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Public events can have up to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Indoor and outdoor sports can continue with limited people and spectators. Oxygen bars, steam rooms and saunas cannot open due to their nature but movies, restaurants and health services can be open with limited capacity of 50 people indoors and up to 100 people outdoors. 

Yellow Zone - Protect

The “Yellow Zone” focused on limiting the spread with stronger levels of enforcement, higher fines for those who do not abide by the rules and further business restrictions. The social interaction guidelines remain the same as with Green, with 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors being able to gather. In the Yellow zone, restaurants and bars must close by midnight with last call on alcoholic beverages at 11:00 pm. A max of 6 people per table is allowed and they must collect name and contact information for all visitors. 

Sports and rec facilities have lower limits with only 10 people per class indoors and 25 people for outdoor classes. 

Orange Zone - Restrict

Cities and geographical areas will enter Orange if the weekly case rate of COVID-19 is between 25 - 39.9 per 100,000 people, if there are repeated outbreaks or increasing numbers of large outbreaks or if the positivity rate of COVID is between 1.3-2.4%. In Orange, no personal-care services that require removing a mask can take place. Bars and restaurants must close by 10 PM instead of midnight. Social group limits remain the same.

Red Zone - Control

Red is where measures become more strict and more things are shut down. Restrictions are more broad with social groups indoors limited to 5 people. It is recommended in Red to only go out for essential reasons and remote work is recommended whenever possible. Live performances, singing and dancing are prohibited from restaurants and bars. Spectators are not allowed for sports activities and meeting spaces and events have a lower limit of people as well. Cinemas are closed. 

Grey Zone - Lockdown

Grey is put into place and Lockdowns are issued if areas in Red see worsening numbers with no improvement in cases with control measures in place. In Grey, it becomes illegal to gather with anyone you don’t live with and should not allow visitors into your home. Takeout and drive through is acceptable for restaurants and bars and indoor dining is prohibited. Sports facilities are closed, as are outdoor meetings. Personal care and non-essential services are also closed during the Grey zone. 

Information on Zones and the COVID-19 Preventative Measures

For detailed information on what the COVID zones mean in Ontario, visit the covid-19.ontario.ca website. If you have any questions about AccqSleepLabs, our services or the safety measures we have in place, please contact us and we would be happy to answer your questions.