A provincewide stay-at-home order meant to bring down COVID-19 case counts takes effect on January 14th in Ontario. The restrictions will remain in place for London until February 11, 2021
During the days when stay-at-home is in effect:
- Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people.
- Individuals are required to wear a mask or face-covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance more than two metres.
- All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 am and close no later than 8 pm. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
- As per official rules, Ontarians can leave their place of residence for one of these 29 reasons.
Gathering Limits
- Social gatherings are limited to your household
- People who live alone can have close contact with one household to offset the effects of isolation.
- 5 people outdoors.
- Limit for weddings, funerals, and other religious services, rites, or ceremonies where physical distancing can be maintained: 10 people indoors or 10 people outdoors
What is Open for In-person Shopping:
– Shops and Retailers Allowed to Open for In-Person Shopping.
— Retailers allowed to open for in-person shopping — including supermarkets, convenience stores, box stores that sell groceries and discount stores — must be able to maintain physical distance between people, and require face coverings.
- Supermarkets and retailers that sell food like Walmart, Costco, Superstore open for in-person shopping. The capacity of big box stores is limited to 25%.
- Pharmacies open for in-person shopping
- Liquor Stores like LCBO, Beer Store open for in-person shopping — Operating hours of 9 am to 8 pm
- Outdoor markets that sell food open for in-person shopping — Operating hours of 7 am to 8 pm
- Gas stations and fuel suppliers are open.
- Automated and self-service car washes are open.
- Laundromats and drycleaners are open.
- Snow cleaning and landscaping services are open.
- Banks and other financial services are open.
What is Open By Appointment/Curbside Delivery
Retail stores deemed non-essential and those offering curbside pickup and delivery must limit hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
— Food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants selling takeout are exempt from the limit on hours.
— Retailers allowed to open for in-person shopping — including supermarkets, convenience stores, box stores that sell groceries and discount stores — must be able to maintain physical distance between people, and require face coverings.
- All other retail permitted to be open for curbside pick-up or delivery only.
- Hardware stores like Homedepot, Canadian Tire open for curbside pick up.
- Restaurants: Take out, drive-through, and delivery permitted, including the sale of alcohol.
- Cannabis retail stores open for curbside pick up.
- Garden centres open for curbside pick up.
- General Retail – all other retail, including hardware stores, pet food, computer stores, etc. open for curbside pick up.
- Veterinary services by appointment
- Regulated health professionals including dentists, optometrists, chiropractic services, ophthalmologists, physical and occupational therapists, and podiatrists by appointment
- Shopping malls: Closed for in-person retail. Members of the public are only permitted to enter the mall to: Access businesses and organizations permitted to be open.
- Motor/recreational vehicle sales permitted to be open for in-person shopping by appointment only and other restrictions.
- Businesses that sell, rent, or repair assistive/mobility/medical devices, and optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public allowed by appointment only. Curbside delivery is allowed
- Libraries are open for curbside, delivery, and pick-up.
- Virtual, drive-in events, religious services, rites, or ceremonies are permitted.
What is closed:
- Personal care services closed like spas, hairdressers.
- Casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments closed
- Indoor sports and recreational facilities, including pools, closed with limited exceptions.
- Museums, art galleries, zoos, aquariums, and other indoor attractions.
- Restaurants closed for indoor and outdoor dining.
- In-person retail shopping not permitted.
- Performing arts facilities closed.
- Ski Hills Closed.
- All “non-essential” construction projects will be stopped.
City of London Services
Parks & Outdoor
- Provincial parks and conservation reserves are open; Some services remain closed
- National Parks are open
- Park playgrounds are open. Park amenities including outdoor sports fields and baseball diamonds, skate parks, basketball courts, disk golf, tennis and pickleball courts, golf courses, off-leash dog parks, and some park washrooms are open.
- Victoria Park, Covent Garden Market, and Storybook Gardens outdoor skating are closed.
- The Neighbourhood-Managed Ice Rink program will continue to accept applications. Resident groups and volunteers applying to have an ice rink in their neighbourhood will be required to monitor ice usage to ensure compliance with the current restrictions of no more than 5 individuals gathering who are not from the same household.
Tourist Attractions
- All indoor attractions closed
Places to Visit near London
Food, Grocery & Retail Stores
- Grocery Shops
- Restaurants – Take out, drive-through and delivery permitted
- Farmers’ Markets with reduced hours
- Covent Garden Market with reduced hours
- Western Fair District Marketwith limited operating capacity.
City Services & Other Facilities
In-person services will be offered only where they are legislatively required or in extenuating circumstances only. Appointments will continue to be offered virtually or over the phone.
- All essential services
- London transit
- City Hall and City facilities will remain closed to the public.
- Animal services will be available either virtually or by appointment adoptions. Stray animal drop off will be by appointment only, and only emergency field services will be available.
- Building permits – Only digital applications will be accepted for all services.
- Emergency forestry services continue.
- All fire stations, including Memorial Headquarters (400 Horton Street) are closed to the public until further notice. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 9-1-1. Fire services will be responding to all emergency calls.
- EnviroDepots remain open, but only for necessary trips
- Garbage, recycling collection will continue as scheduled.
- The waste disposal drop-off area and Household Special Waste Depot located inside the W12A landfill is open.
- Marriage licenses are available by appointment only. For additional information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 519-661-4530. Civil Marriage Ceremonies are not being offered at this time.
- All community centres are closed for indoor drop-in and indoor registered programs. Registration and start dates for indoor recreation programs that were scheduled to start in January will be suspended.
- All programs in arenas will be cancelled, including recreational skates, hockey rentals, and any private rentals.
- All programs will be cancelled including recreational swims, aquafit classes, fit lanes, Learn to Swim and leadership courses. Swim passes will be placed on hold.
- London Public Library – Pick Up of items on hold will be available from all Library locations during their regular hours of operation. No other in-person services (computers, printers, photocopiers, browsing, washrooms, etc.) will be available during the current Lockdown period. The Digital Library, phone and email support, and online services and programs remain available.
- Parks and recreation customer service will be available for in-person services at Citi Plaza at the below date and times only: December 29 and 30 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. December 31 from 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon. Services are also available by phone at 519-661-5575 and email at recreation@london.ca
- Emergency repairs and ongoing required operations of Roads and streets, ShowWater operations, wastewater treatment, and sewers will continue.
Online Services
- London Public Library Online Services
- Apply for aBuilding Permit
- Housing Access Centre (HAC) services will continue to be provided over the phone by calling 519-661-0861 or email hac@london.ca
- Business licensing – Email Licensing@london.ca
- Service Requests
- The Parking Office is closed. Payments can be made online. For parking inquiries including parking lot payments and screening requests, please email Parking@london.ca.
- Supports for London Middlesex Housing Corporation tenants will continue. If you require support, please call 519-434-2765
- For social services, call 519-661-4520 (toll-free at 1-833-932-2297) or email socialservices@london.ca.
- If you are experiencing homelessness and need to connect with the Homeless Prevention’s Coordinated Access team during regular business hours, please call 519-661-HOME(4663) or toll free 1-833-932-2297 x 4.
- For questions about property taxes, please contact the Tax Office at 519-661-4540 or taxoffice@london.ca.
- Beginning January 4, the recreation customer service line will be closed and will direct you to our customer service email or online services. – Services and inquiries only available by email at recreation@london.ca – Self-service options are always available online 24/7 through Play Your Way Online – In person services are available at Citi Plaza only on Fridays between 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Ontario Works – Call 519-661-4520 (toll free at 1-833-932-2297) or email socialservices@london.ca.
Supermarkets and retailers that sell food like Walmart, Costco, Superstore open for in-person shopping with 25% capacity not 50% pretty sure 25% is correct.