Covid-19 Bulletin No.40 - Stay-At-Home Order Extended

Updated on May 17, 2021

In response to the new, more contagious variants of COVID-19 that continue to pose significant risk, the Ontario government has extended the Stay-at-Home Order until at least June 2^nd 2021. All public health and workplace safety measures under the province-wide emergency brake will remain in effect. The Ontario government has confirmed that the impacts of these measures will continue to be evaluated over the coming weeks, with consideration being made to re-opening outdoor recreational amenities.

What is permitted during the Stay-at-Home Order?

• Individuals working at a condominium must be COVID-screened prior to entering the Property and notices must invite all other visitors to self-screen;
• Indoor and outdoor organized public events and social gathering are prohibited;
• All recreational facilities must remain closed. This includes any sport fields/courts (such as tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf course etc.). An outdoor recreational amenity that is a park or recreational area may be opened for the purpose of permitting individuals to walk through it.  Off-leash dog areas, outdoor playground or play structures may remain open;
• All other outdoor amenities such as outdoor common element terraces and BBQ facilities must remain closed;
• All non-essential construction remains suspended;
• Staff must work from home unless the nature of the work requires them to be on-site;
• Short-term rental is limited to only individuals in need of housing; thus, all guest suites must remain closed; and
• Landscaping services may continue.

Condominiums have the authority to regulate, manage and control common elements and they also have a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure the reasonable safety of those on their premises. 

Vaccine update

The Ontario government is ramping up the vaccine rollout in Ontario. As of May 18^th 2021, all Ontario residents over the age of 18 will be able to book a COVID-19 vaccine. This is one week ahead of the Province’s initial roll-out schedule.

The Provincial booking system will allow bookings from 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18^th 2021 and are accessible to anyone aged 18 and older, including 17-year-old residents who will turn 18 in 2021. The Province further announced that it will open eligibility to children aged 12 to 17 for the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine by May 31^st 2021, with the goal to have all youth fully vaccinated by the end of August 2021.

Please refer to our previous COVID-19 Bulletins on proper protocols and procedures to be implemented and followed by condominium corporations.

Please also ensure that you speak with your legal counsel if you do not already have COVID-19 protocols and policies in place to help manage the risk of transmission of the virus within your condominium community and require assistance with respect to drafting and/or implementing the same.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact anyone on our team:

All of the information contained in this article is of a general nature for informational purposes only, and is not intended to represent the definitive opinion of the firm of Elia Associates on any particular matter. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate and up-to-date, the reader should not act upon it without obtaining appropriate professional advice and assistance.

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