2 More Ontario Regions Are Now In Lockdown As 7 Others Get Even Looser Restrictions

Two more regions are officially joining Ontario's lockdown starting today. 

Simcoe-Muskoka and Thunder Bay Public Health Units entered the grey-lockdown zone at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 1, as several others were permitted to ease restrictions.

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The decision was announced on Friday as part of the province's new "emergency brake" system, which allows officials to swiftly halt reopening in any region. 

"This is due to a rapid worsening in key public health indicators, as well as a high presence of variants in the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit that continue to increase - the highest in the province," says Ford's government.

As of February 23, Simcoe-Muskoka had reported a total of 170 COVID-19 confirmed cases linked to variants of concern within the region.

"It was necessary to tighten public health measures in these regions to ensure the health and safety of the region at large and stop the spread of the virus," says Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams.

At the same time, however, seven regions were given the go-ahead to move into zones with fewer restrictions.

As of today, Niagara Region is in the red-control zone, while Chatham-Kent, Middlesex-London, and Southwestern units are in the orange-restrict zone.

Haldimand-Norfolk and Huron Perth are now in the yellow zone and Grey Bruce is in the green zone.

Peel Public Health, Toronto Public Health, and North Bay Parry Sound District are the only regions yet to enter the provincial framework — they will continue to be under Ontario's stay-at-home order until at least March 8. 

Mississauga's Mayor Bonnie Crombie has said that she intends to fight for the city to move into the red zone after March 8.