March 12, 2021, the government announced its intention to move three public health units (PHUs) to new levels of Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework. PHUs affected by today’s announcement include Lambton Public Health, which will be moved into Grey-Lockdown, as well as Northwestern, and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. The new PHU classifications will come into effect on Monday, March 15, at 12:01 a.m.

Additional Announcements

Earlier, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, Lisa MacLeod, announced an investment of $2.5 million in the province’s music industry to support the sector’s recovery from COVID-19. The Unison Benevolent Fund will receive up to $2 million to support individual musicians and industry workers. The Canadian Live Music Association will receive up to $500,000 to support local communities that wish to develop and implement music city strategies beyond COVID-19.

Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Vic Fedeli, announced more than $2.9 million through the Northern Ontario Recovery Program (NORP), to protect businesses and employees in the Nipissing region from COVID-19.

Minister Fedeli also issued a statement today, in response to Statistics Canada’s monthly employment release. The release indicates that employment in Ontario increased by more than 100,000 in February. The province has also regained more than 829,000 jobs in the last nine months.

Further Details

Ontario Moves Three PHUs to New Levels of COVID-19 Response Framework

Today, the government announced its intention to reclassify three PHUs at new levels of its COVID-19 Response Framework. This decision is based on public health trends in the relevant regions, as well as input from the Chief Medical Officer of Health and local medical officers of health.

Effective Monday, March 15 at 12:01 a.m., the following PHUs will be reclassified as follows:

  • Grey-Lockdown: Lambton Public Health
  • Red-Control: Northwestern Health Unit
  • Yellow-Protect: Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

Following an announcement made yesterday, the province has also applied the “emergency brake” measure in Public Health Sudbury and Districts, in order to move the region immediately to Grey-Lockdown. This change came into effect today, March 12, at 12:01 a.m.

New Capacity Limits for Weddings, Funerals, and Religious Services in Grey-Lockdown

In addition, the province has adjusted capacity limits for weddings, funerals, and religious services held in regions at the Grey-Lockdown level of the Framework.

Effective Monday, March 15 at 12:01 a.m., the following limits apply to these services:

  • Up to 15 per cent total occupancy indoors; or,
  • Up to 50 people outdoors.

The previous limit for these gatherings was capped at 10 attendees, both indoors and outdoors.

NORP Funding for Nipissing Businesses

Earlier, Minister Fedeli announced more than $2.9 million for 145 businesses in the Nipissing region. The funding, provided through NORP, will support upgrades that will help to protect employees, customers, and the community from COVID-19.

Funding will support projects such as:

  • Building renovations and new construction
  • Customer and employee safety installations
  • Personal protective equipment purchases
  • Marketing for new business initiatives; and
  • Restructuring of business operations.