Ontario Is Activating Its Emergency Brake & Putting Another Region Into Lockdown

Provincial officials are activating Ontario's emergency brake system for the second time since it was introduced.

A press release issued Thursday states that Public Health Sudbury and Districts will move from the red-control zone to the grey-lockdown zone on Friday, March 12 at 12:01 a.m.

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"We have seen a rapid rise in the case rate in the Sudbury area, and swift action is needed to protect individuals, families, and businesses and save lives," said Health Minister Christine Elliot.

The region's case rate increased by 54.1% from March 3 to March 9, climbing to 75.9 cases per 100,000 people.

What other regions have pulled the brake already?

On Friday, February 26, the province hit its emergency brake for the first time to put Thunder Bay District and Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Units into the grey-lockdown zone.

Elliott said at the time that the decision was based on a concerning rise in community spread of COVID-19.

Thunder Bay, Simcoe-Muskoka, and Sudbury and Districts are the only regions to have the emergency brake activated. 

What can you still do in the grey zone?

Rules and regulations are strict in the grey zone. Essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores can operate at 50% capacity.

Indoor dining, personal care services, and gyms are closed in the grey-lockdown zone, and retail stores can remain open at 25% capacity. 

Drive-in theatres are allowed to operate, but cinemas remain closed. Indoor social gatherings are not allowed, while outdoor gatherings can have a maximum of 10 people.