Earlier this week, Premier Ford announced a province-wide Stay-at-Home Order that began yesterday, Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 12:01 a.m.
Under the Stay-at-Home Order, everyone is asked to remain at home except for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely. Individuals are asked to remain in their local communities and avoid all non-essential travel – even within the province – and to stay home when ill, even with mild symptoms.
This Order and other new and existing public health restrictions are aimed at limiting people’s mobility and reducing the number of daily contacts with those outside an immediate household. In addition to limiting outings for these purposes, all businesses must ensure that any employee who can work from home, does work from home. Across the community, City of Hamilton Public Health Services is reporting increased transmission of COVID-19 and variants of concern, and reduced hospital capacity. As of 9 a.m. this morning, there are a total of 140 new cases of COVID-19 and the weekly incidence per 100,000 is 130. Nearly 48 per cent of Hamilton’s cases reported in the past seven days have screened positive for a mutation or variant of concern. More details about the local COVID-19 situation are available on the City’s website including demographics, risk factors, exposure, etc.
City Hall, Municipal Service Centres and other Service Counters Closed to the Public Beginning today, the City is no longer accepting in-person appointments at any service counters (including all municipal services at City Hall and the Municipal Service Centres, Animal Services, Licensing, Clerks Services, etc.). Residents looking to access municipal services are encouraged to do so online or by phone. Most services are available online: www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus/online-city-services or by phone 905-546-CITY (2489).
An exception will be made for marriage licenses where residents may have special circumstances and require a marriage license during the Stay-at-Home Order. Residents should call the City for an in-person appointment to access a marriage license if necessary. Civil marriage ceremonies will remain unavailable.
The Provincial Administration Offences Office will remain open for in-person appointments for filings only.
Other Municipal Impacts The City’s Emergency Operations Centre has also postponed or modified a number of events planned for this spring, as a result of the Stay-at-Home Order. These include: • Spring Compost Giveaways planned for this spring will be postponed until after the Stay-at-Home Order is lifted. • All community tree planting events planned for this spring will be postponed until after the Stay-at-Home Order is lifted. • Private tree giveaways will continue through the Stay-at-Home Order but will be modified so that trees are dropped off at residents’ homes with contactless delivery. • In order to support spring cleaning of our city parks and neighbourhoods, Team Up to Clean Up, Adopt-a-Park and the Beautiful Alleys programs will continue with increased health and safety measures. Participants are required to wear masks and can only participate in clean up activities individually or with members of the same household. Staff will work with participants to provide supplies (via mail, delivery or pick up as required) • Replacement of in-home water meters will move to emergency service replacements only until after the Stay-at-Home Order is lifted.
Enforcement of the Stay-at-Home Orders Locally, the Reopening Ontario Act will continue to be assertively enforced by the City’s COVID Enforcement Team. The COVID Enforcement Team will be responding to complaints as well as proactively enforcing all the applicable regulations throughout the city. • City of Hamilton Licensing and Bylaw Services officers will work closely with Hamilton Police and provincial enforcement teams. • Residents will not be stopped in their cars or on the street to be questioned about why they aren’t at home or where they are going. • Officers will be focused on enforcement related to the Reopening Ontario Act and City By-laws. Particularly, officers will be focused on large outdoor gatherings, businesses that are not permitted to be open, indoor gatherings with people outside the same household (except for single people or single parents who have exclusive contact with one other household). Officers will also be focused on ensuring retailers are operating safely and are protecting workers and patrons. • Residents should not call 911 to ask for clarity on the Stay-at-Home Orders. 911 is for emergencies only. • To report a concern, residents can call the Customer Contact Centre at 905-546-CITY (2489).
Reminder: Public Health Measures It is vital that members of the public, even those who have been vaccinated, ensure that public health measures still be practiced until it is safe and said to be safe by the health professionals in all levels of government. Public health measures include: • Stay home if you are feeling unwell • Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 • Limit gatherings to only members of your immediate household • Maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet or 2 meters from others outside of your immediate household • Wear a mask or face covering indoors and outdoors when not able to maintain physical distancing • Wash hands frequently
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