COVID-19 safety

The Roadmap to Reopen Ontario is a three-step plan to safely and gradually reopen Ontario. This strategy is based on the ongoing progress of province-wide vaccination rates and continued improvement in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization rates.

Ontario is now in Step 3 of the roadmap as of July 16, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.

Learn more about the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario (Government of Ontario).

What’s on this page?

What does it mean to be COVID-safe?

Being COVID-safe means assessing your actions, thinking things through, and taking deliberate precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Remember that getting the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it’s available to you is one way of keeping our communities safe.

Handwashing, physical distancing, wearing a mask or face covering, covering your cough or sneeze, and staying home if you are feeling sick are simple behaviours you can practise to be COVID-safe.

Making informed choices will help to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. To reduce your risks and stay COVID-safe, always follow public health recommendations especially when the three C’s ( closed spaces, crowded places, close contact) are involved.

Closed spaces, crowded places, close contact

Closed spaces

You are more likely to contract and/or spread the virus if you are indoors, especially in closed spaces with poor ventilation. Enjoying activities outdoors or in large open areas is a COVID-safe way to get out and participate in your community.

Crowded places

Areas that don’t have large numbers or people gathered are a lower risk option when considering where to spend time. Going out during off-peak times is a COVID-safe way to limit the number of people you are interacting with and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Close contact

Only allow close contact like shaking hands and hugging with members of your household. Keep a physical distance of at least 2 metres from everyone else. A physical distance of 2 metres is about the length of one hockey stick. If you are unable to maintain your physical distance, wear a mask or face covering for added protection.

Learn more about public gatherings, and follow personal health measures. (Government of Ontario).

How can you be COVID-safe?

With so many announcements about COVID-19—from stages of reopening to personal precautions—it can be hard to know what rules are currently in place.

The following COVID-Rules-to-Live-By will keep us going for the long haul and will go a long way to protect our health, our health care system, our schools, and our jobs and economy.

Top-10-COVID-Rules-to-Live-By

Always follow the current guidance and restrictions in effect by the Government of Ontario

1. Get vaccinated against COVID-19

It is more important than ever to complete the vaccine series and boost your immune response. For the best protection against COVID-19 and variants, such as the delta variant, individuals must complete the vaccine series with two doses to improve vaccine effectiveness.

2. Keep 2 metres distance from anyone not in your household

Continue to practise physical distancing in all settings. For example, being COVID-safe includes only dining out in restaurants and bars with your household. Stay 2 metres away from everyone else, especially when it’s not possible to wear a face covering.

3. Use your face covering in enclosed indoor public spaces and when you can’t keep 2 metres distance outdoors

Keep a face covering (i.e. non-medical mask, surgical masks, homemade cloth mask) with you so you can use it when you need it.

4. Limit gatherings

Provincial gathering limits may vary, but public health measures stay the same. Ask yourself if the gathering is necessary and if so, assess your risk and determine how you can make the activity safer.

5. Avoid non-essential travel

Ask yourself if the travel is necessary and if so, plan ahead on how you will keep COVID-safe.

6. Wash your hands

Wash your hands often and when visibly dirty, for 15 seconds. Make a habit of carrying hand sanitizer with you.

7. Stay home when ill

The easiest way to reduce transmission is to stay home. If you have a COVID-19 symptom, get tested.

8. Get tested

If you have a COVID-19 symptom, if you are concerned that you may have been exposed to COVID-19, or if you are at risk of exposure to COVID-19, contact an assessment centre and get tested. Remember, you can still be infected after a negative test. A negative result should not be treated as a free pass to let your guard down. Continue to take precautions.

9. Work remotely

Where possible continue to work remotely. Reducing our time in the workplace reduces the possibility of introducing the virus to new environments. If you cannot work remotely, follow public health guidance for workplaces.

10. Practise kindness, patience, and gratitude—we are all in this together

Changing our behaviour and doing things in new ways takes planning and practice. Think ahead. Be patient with others while we adjust to a new way of life. Assess your risk and live by the rules.

These COVID-rules-to-live-by are simple yet powerful actions that will get us through this pandemic safely.

COVID-safety tips for COVID-safe summer adventures

As of July 16, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. Ontario is in Stage 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario (Government of Ontario). The third stage of the Roadmap permits indoors gatherings of limited size and expands outdoors gathering spaces with some restrictions still in place. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been told to self-isolate, you need to stay home and avoid public spaces.

Seeing a Personal Care Service Provider?

The safe option:

Wear mask at all times.
Keep 2 metres distance from other people.
Make sure you arrive on time and not too early as to limit the time spend indoors.
Keep your appointment short, do not linger in the building after completion of services.

The safer option:

Ask for the first or last appointment of the day to limit the number of people present in the building.
Attend your appointment by yourself.
If possible, reduce the frequency in which you visit a personal care provider.
Use a touch-free payment method and avoid using money when possible.

Planning a gathering?

The safe option:

Plan indoor and outdoor gatherings where every individual can maintain 2 metres distance. Limit outdoor gathering size to 100 people and indoor gatherings to 25 people.
Encourage guest to bring a mask if 2 metres distance cannot be maintained.

The safer option:

Plan for an outdoor gathering while following physical distancing.
Ensure the gathering takes place in a location with lots of space and good ventilation.
Plan the gathering in advance to ensure COVID-safe measure are in place.

Planning or attending a wedding?

The safe option:

Maintain 2 metres distance between guest from different households.
Wear a face mask on the dance floor or anytime you cannot maintain 2 metres distance.
Wash and sanitize your hands frequently.
Do not share your tableware with others.

The safer option:

Seat members of a household at the same table.
Avoid buffet options to limit the number of people touching the food.
Consider having an outdoor wedding.

Participating in outdoor sports or fitness classes?

The safe option:

Maintain 3 metres distance for others during physical activity.
Bring a mask for before and after class.
Ensure you sanitize the equipment used before and after you use it. Do not share equipment with others.

Do not share equipment with others.

The safer option:

Avoid crowded places.
Bring your own water bottle and avoid using communal water fountains.
When possible, bring your own equipment.
Limit socializing after your session.

Attending and Day or Overnight camp?

The safe option:

Maintain 2 metres distance form others.
Wear a mask at all time when indoors (except while eating/drinking) or when maintaining 2 metres distance is not possible.
Frequently wash and sanitize hands.

The safer option:

Ensure cohorts are being used to limit possible exposures.
Provide the workers with contact information for contact tracing.
Label personal belongings to ensure they are not shared with others.

Attending an outdoor organized public event (sports, concert, farmer’s market)?

The safe option:

Maintain 2 metres distance from others.
Bring a face covering in case maintaining 2 metres distance is not possible.
Frequently wash and sanitize your hands.

The safer option:

Limit the number of public events you attend.
Avoid crowded places.

Going shopping?

The safe option:

Wear a face covering at all times, including in the changing rooms.
Maintain 2 metres distance form others.
Sanitize your hand before and after leaving a store.
Limit the amount of merchandise you handle in a store.

The safer option:

Shop with members from your household.
Bring a shopping list to limit the time spend in a store.
Shop during non-peak hours.
Use a touch-free payment method and avoid using money when possible.
If a store offers delivery or curbside options take advantage of these contactless methods.

Dining out?

The safe option:

Limit the number of individuals at your table.
When not at the table wear a face covering.
Maintain at least 2 metres from others not at your table.
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before eating.

The safer option:

Only dine out with members of your household.
When not eating wear a face mask to socialize with those at your table.
Use a touch-free payment method and avoid using money when possible.
Order take out instead.

Attending a museum or indoor event space?

The safe option:

Wear a face covering at all times.
Maintain 2 metres distance form others.
Sanitize your hands frequently and after you touch an exhibit.

The safer option:

Attend museum and events with members from your household.
Visit museums during non-peak hours.
Attended events that control the number of people in attendance.
Use a touch-free payment method and avoid using money when possible.

Why is physical distancing important

When an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, shouts, or talks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the novel coronavirus, if the person has the disease (COVID-19) (Health Canada, 2021). COVID-19 can also be spread via direct contact with surfaces that are potentially contaminated with the virus. Practising physical distancing slows the spread! A reminder that physical distancing applies to everyone. Let’s all do our part to protect our health care system and vulnerable populations. Stay healthy. Stop the spread. Flatten the curve.

How to practise physical distancing

Physical distancing means limiting the number of people you come into close contact with and maintaining 2 metres distance from each other to reduce the opportunity for the virus to spread from person to person.

Your actions matter

Your actions matter to keep yourself and others COVID-safe. It is important to think ahead and understand risks for COVID-19. Risk levels may vary based on activity.

Here are a few examples of lower risk activities you may choose to do:

Going for a walk in your neighbourhood
Backyard BBQ with members of your household
Sightseeing in your personal vehicle

Some higher risk activities include:

Gathering indoors in public spaces
Crowded public transportation
Indoor and outdoor parties

Try to choose lower risk activities to limit your risk of contracting COVID-19.

It’s important to continue to follow public health measures by washing your hands, keeping a distance of 2 metres, and wearing a mask or face covering when doing essential activities such as:

Grocery shopping
Getting the mail
Going to the pharmacy
Visiting a health care provider
Commuting to work using public transportation
Essential travel for work

If you get symptoms, even mild ones, do not participate in any activities and make an appointment to get tested.

Thinking about our actions and changing our behaviours in simple ways will help protect our health and our communities.

Safe holidays and celebrations

Staying connected with loved ones and friends is important but COVID-19 does not take holidays. While we continue to navigate a global pandemic, celebrations must look a little different. When planning, hosting, or attending a holiday celebration think about how you can modify your activities in a COVID-safe way.

Consider the current situation of COVID-19 in your area when planning your events or gatherings.
Use local public health guidance to make the safest decision.
Recognize that public health measures are adjusted based on evolving situations across the province and region.
Stay informed to know whether you should postpone, cancel, or limit your celebration.

Community Gardens

The operator(s) of community or allotment gardens must ensure that all garden members are familiar with Public Health conditions and directions for operating during COVID-19. Visit our COVID-19 resources page to download our COVID-19 and Community Gardens Public Health Direction and signage.

Stay informed and be prepared

Canadians’ best defense against COVID-19 is to stay informed and be prepared and get vaccinated. Anyone can post anything online. It’s important to think critically about posts to decide if it’s truthful and safe. Here are some tips to help you decide whether information is worth considering:

- 1. Check that the information came from a trusted source.
  2. Check what public health officials and the government are saying.
  3. Read the entire story or post. Sometimes headlines can be misleading.

The following are examples credible sources of information.

For more information and credible resources, visit our COVID-19 resources page.

This item was last modified on July 23, 2021