Below are links to information and advice from official authorities regarding the current COVID-19 outbreak. Below are trusted sources for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. novel coronavirus.
PROVINCIAL ROADMAP TO REOPEN – STEP TWO (MODIFIED)
As of Wednesday January 5th, 2022 at 12:01am the Province of Ontario is in a Modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen. The restrictions put in places for Step Two includes but is not limited to:
GENERAL GUIDELINES
- Face masks are advised but not required for outdoor events
- Physical distancing of 2 metres is still required
- Individual indoor events must be limited to 5 people and outdoors to 10
- Capacity limits must be posted
Restaurants, bars and cafes
• Restaurants, bars and cafes must close for indoor dining.
• Outdoor dining is permitted with restrictions.
• Takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted.
• There are new restrictions that prohibit the sale of alcohol after 10 p.m. and the consumption of alcohol on-premise in businesses or settings after 11 p.m. with delivery and takeout, grocery/convenience stores and other liquor stores exempted.
Gyms and sports recreation facilities
• Gyms, indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities must close except for athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and select professional and elite amateur sport leagues.
• Outdoor facilities are permitted to operate but with the number of spectators not to exceed 50 per cent occupancy and other requirements.
Shopping and retail
• Retail settings, including shopping malls will be permitted to remain open but at 50 per cent capacity.
• For shopping malls physical distancing will be required in line-ups, loitering will not be permitted and food courts will be required to close.
Concerts and events
• Concerts and other ticketed events are no longer allowed with in-person attendees.
• Rehearsals and recorded performances are permitted to continue with restrictions.
• Capacity will be limited to five people indoors at all organized public events.
Cinemas and theatres
• Movie theatres and live theatre venue are no longer permitted to remain open.
Museums and galleries
• Museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services and fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals must all close.
• Outdoor establishments are permitted to remain open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy, where applicable, limited to 50 per cent capacity.
Meeting Spaces
• Meeting and event spaces will be closed with limited exceptions but outdoor spaces can remain open with restrictions.
• Capacity will be limited at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies to 50 per cent capacity of the particular room.
• Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance. Social gatherings associated with these services must adhere to the social gathering limits.
• Pre-scheduled meetings to view venues spaces can still occur, for future booking purposes.
Other venues
• Indoor horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues must close. Outdoor establishments are permitted to remain open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy limited to 50 per cent capacity.
To see full details and additional details please click ontario.ca.
ONTARIO PROOF OF VACCINATION
Proof of vaccination includes a print out or digital copy of your full vaccination status and must include the QR code as of January 4th, 2022.
To download a proof of your vaccination or for additional details please click covid19.ontariohealth.ca.
Tourism Windsor Essex Tourism Partners Information
- Ontario’s Southwest Tourism Corporation
- TIAO Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- TIAC Tourism Industry Association of Canada
- Destination Canada
- Destinations International
Municipal Partners
RESEARCH & DATA
Destination Ontario continues to provide statistics to help us understand the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the consumer mindset and to inform marketing recovery strategies.
To view the latest report dated December 14th, 2021 please click here.
Please note this will be the final COVID-19 trends and statistics report created and distributed by Destinations Ontario regarding broad based travel sentiment, be ongoing travel sentiment research programs will still be in place.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Digital Main Street Program
Supporting the growth of Main Street businesses by making the adoption of digital tools and technologies easier (click here).
Digital Main Street Program includes Digital Service Squad (Offers one-to-one assistance to main street businesses with their adoption of technology – click here), ShopHERE (Get an online store for your business built for free – click here), Digital Ontario Grants (Learn digital skills and apply for a $2,500 grant for your business – click here), and FutureProof (Detailed deep dive to support business transformation – click here). Learn more about Digital Main Street by visiting digitalmainstreet.ca.
Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund
The Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund (TEDRF) is an application-based, cost-sharing program designed to provide non-capital funding to projects that either: encourage the development of innovative new tourism products, support tourism investment, or build the capacity of Ontario’s tourism industry.
Reconnect Ontario 2022
Reconnect Ontario 2022 is a program supporting eligible festivals and events that take place between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. It supports festivals and events that have a tourism economic impact and motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, reconnect people with local experiences and generate increased tourism spending. To apply, click here. For program guidelines please click here.
ACCESS TO RAPID TESTING KITS
Rapid Testing Kits Available for Small & Medium-Sized Windsor Essex Businesses
The Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce launched the COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative known as ‘WEStaySafe’. Through this initiative they are distributing FREE rapid test kits for small-to-medium-sized businesses across Windsor and Essex County. Businesses (including non-Chamber Members) with 150 employees or less are welcome to order their tests by clicking here.
SAFE TRAVELS CERTIFICATION
Businesses can now get a self-certified Safe Travels Stamp based on worldwide industry protocols the World Travel & Tourism Council has put together for every aspect of the hospitality and tourism sector. Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island was the first DMO in Ontario to receive their Safe Travels stamp, and we encourage you to apply today for the opportunity to be engaged in this valuable visitor education program and join the list of our current approved businesses.
- To apply, please click here. For further guidelines, please click here.
- For more information on the program, please click here and for a list of approved Safe Travels Stamp applicants in Ontario, please click here.
RESOURCES AT A NATIONAL LEVEL
Federal Funding & Support Measures for Businesses
- The Government of Canada is providing COVID-19 Resources for Business and COVID-19 wage and hiring support for businesses
- The Business Development Bank of Canada is providing federal and provincial support measures during the pandemic. Click here for more. Timely webinars assisting businesses to adapt and recover can be found here.
- The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has created the Canadian Business Resilience Network offering critical resources to assist businesses through the pandemic.
- The Tourism Relief Fund, launched by the Government of Canada and delivered through FedDev Ontario, supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. For more information and to access the application for funding, click here.
- Tourism & Hospitality Emergency Recovery is a national workforce recovery initiative to connect
workers to exciting career opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector and to support
businesses across Canada. Click here for more.
RESOURCES AT A PROVINCIAL LEVEL
- The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has created a COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness for Ontario Businesses
- The Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) is providing COVID-19 updates for BIAs across the province.
- For the latest on Ontario’s COVID-19 status, click here and for the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario, click here.
Contact Us
Please contact the Tourism Windsor Essex team with questions or concerns. Our team values the health and safety of everyone in our region – our staff, visitors, and our industry partners.
Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the regional tourism industry. We are a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting and selling Windsor, Essex and Pelee Island as a remarkable destination for tourist, convention goers and business travelers. To view our mission and mandate please click here.
