*TOP DO MEMBER COVID CONCERN FOR AUGUST 2021 - How to make COVID-19 safety Plans and incorporate new protocols.
LATEST NEWS
Ontario Easing Capacity Limits in Select Settings
Effective September 25, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., capacity limits will be increased in many of the indoor settings where proof of vaccination is required. Meeting and event spaces, such as banquet halls and conference/convention centres; sporting events; concerts, theatres and cinemas; racing venues (e.g., horse racing); and commercial and film television productions with studio audiences will be increased to up to 50 per cent capacity or 10,000 people (whichever is less) for indoor events.
For certain outdoor event venues where patrons stand, capacity limits will increase to up to 75 per cent capacity or 15,000 people (whichever is less). For certain outdoor event venues where patrons are seated, capacity limits will be increased to up to 75 per cent capacity or 30,000 people (whichever is less). This is in recognition of the fact that the risk of transmission is lower because of reduced mobility around the venue. In addition, proof of vaccination will now be required in outdoor settings where the normal maximum capacity is 20,000 people or more to help keep these venues safe for patrons.
Ontario has released Regulations and Guidance for Implementing Proof of Vaccination
On September 14, the government released the regulations and guidance for businesses and organizations to support them in implementing proof of vaccination requirements, which take effect on September 22, 2021. Please note that Ontario Regulation 364/20: Rules For Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step will be updated online shortly. Requiring proof of vaccination will help increase vaccination rates, protect individuals in higher-risk indoor settings, and keep businesses open.
This requirement focuses on higher-risk indoor (unless otherwise stated) public settings:
· Indoor areas of restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments without dance facilities
· Indoor and outdoor areas of food or drink establishments with dance facilities, including nightclubs and restaurants, clubs and other similar establishments
· Indoor areas of meeting and event spaces
· Indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including waterparks, and personal physical fitness training with limited exemptions
o Includes gyms, fitness/sporting/recreational facilities, pools, leagues, sporting events, waterparks, and indoor areas of facilities where spectators watch events
· Indoor areas of casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments
· Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres, and cinemas
· Indoor areas of bathhouses, sex clubs and strip clubs
· Indoor areas of horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues
· Indoor areas where commercial film and TV productions take place with studio audiences
In addition to the guidance, there is a questions and answers document to help clarify the requirements for businesses and organizations.
View full press release
Ontario to Require Proof of Vaccination in Select Settings
As of September 22, 2021, Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) and provide their proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities. This approach focuses on higher-risk indoor public settings where face coverings cannot always be worn and includes:
- Restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, as well as delivery and takeout);
- Nightclubs (including outdoor areas of the establishment);
- Meeting and event spaces, such as banquet halls and conference/convention centres;
- Facilities used for sports and fitness activities and personal fitness training, such as gyms, fitness and recreational facilities with the exception of youth recreational sport;
- Sporting events;
- Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments;
- Concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas;
- Strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs;
- Racing venues (e.g., horse racing).
Ontario Makes COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Mandatory for High-Risk Settings
Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is pausing the province's exit from the Roadmap to Reopen, it is making COVID-19 vaccination policies mandatory in high-risk settings, and it is providing third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable populations.
While the province has reached the milestone of more than 81 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and over having received a first dose, and is expected to reach its target of 75 per cent vaccinated with a second dose later this month, out of an abundance of caution, the government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is pausing the exit from the Roadmap to Reopen.
The Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts will continue to monitor the data to determine when it is safe to exit the Roadmap and lift the majority of public health and workplace safety measures currently in place.
We encourage you to review the Ontario News Release to understand the impacts on your business.
CURRENT ONTARIO STATUS
Ontario is currently in STEP THREE of its Roadmap to Reopen. Full press release and Regulation
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Step 3 Highlights
- Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at
- up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
- up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less). - Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to open subject to a maximum 50 per cent capacity of the indoor space.
- Businesses that provide in-person teaching and instruction may open if they comply with certain conditions
- Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 100 people with limited exceptions
- Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people
- Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at
UPDATED SCREENING TOOLS
- The COVID-19 Screening Tool for Businesses and Organizations (Screening Patrons) has been updated to align with requirements for patron screening per Step 3, and wording has been clarified from previous version. The tool can be accessed online or downloaded (PDF) from the Ontario government website.
- The COVID-19 Screening Tool for Businesses and Organizations (Screening Workers) has been updated. The tool can be accessed online or downloaded (PDF) from the Ontario government website.
- The COVID-19 Signage Questions for Businesses and Organizations (Signage Instructions) has been simplified. The instructions can be downloaded (PDF) from the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance for the Health Sector website.
Find out about the latest public health measures, advice and restrictions in your area. Please visit www.Ontario.ca/covidresponse for the full list of public health region classifications. Check which zone your region is in and find your public health unit. Regions are based on public health unit boundaries.
Besides the provincial health measures listed at www.Ontario.ca/covidresponse , there may also be additional local restrictions or requirements. Find these restrictions on your local municipality or public health unit’s website, which is linked from the map on this website.
FEDERAL RESOURCES
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
New Support for Highly Affected Sectors https://www.budget.gc.ca/fes-eea/2020/themes/tourism-hospitality-en.html
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2020/11/canada-emergency-rent-subsidy.html?utm_source=charities&utm_medium=eml
Canada Recovery Benefit https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-benefit.html
Canada Emergency Response Benefit Retroactive Applications https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-caregiving-benefit.html
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-sickness-benefit.html
Budget 21 Supporting Tourism, Hospitality, Arts and Culture
PROVINCIAL RESOURCES
Ethical Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution here
Support for Businesses- Main Street Grants: PPE and Property Tax and Energy bill rebates https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs?mc_cid=f0f73a5e08&mc_eid=540b45a996
Framework for Reopening the Province
Rules for Areas in Stage 3 https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20364
Develop your COVID 19 workplace safety plan https://www.ontario.ca/page/develop-your-covid-19-workplace-safety-plan
COVID-19: Precautions When Working In A Day Camp https://www.pshsa.ca/resources/covid-19-precautions-when-working-in-a-day-camp
Ontario Workplace Screening Tool
Resources to Prevent COVID-19 in the Workplace
COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open
Improving Connectivity for Ontarians
FUNDERS UPDATES
Canada Council for the Arts COVID Response https://canadacouncil.ca/covid-19-information
Department of Canadian Heritage https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/information-covid-19.html
Ontario Arts Council COVID Updates https://www.arts.on.ca/news-resources/updates?lang=en-ca
OTF Resilient Communities Fund Deadline Extende to December 9th https://otf.ca/our-grants/resilient-communities-fund?redirected=1
Ontario Trillium Foundation https://otf.ca/news/covid-19-update
Toronto Arts Council https://torontoartscouncil.org/news
London Arts Council https://www.londonarts.ca/covid-19
Hamilton Arts Council Relief Fund https://www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/save-the-arts
Kingston Arts Council https://www.artskingston.ca/covid-19-and-the-arts-sector/
Mississauga Arts Council Micro Grants for a Pandemic
RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS
The AFC https://afchelps.ca/get-help/
The Facebook National Arts Centre Fund for Performing Arts https://nac-cna.ca/en/media/newsrelease/25880
Reopening Guidelines, Stage 3 - City of Toronto
RESOURCES FOR STUDIOS AND SMALL BUSINESS
Relief funding for small businesses - Ontario https://www.app.grants.gov.on.ca/msrf/#/
Dance studios are eligible for funding through Ontario's Main Street Relief Grant, as the ‘gyms and yoga studios’ category is defined as ‘establishments primarily engaged in operating health clubs and similar facilities featuring exercise and other active physical fitness conditioning, or recreational sports activities.
Federal programs for small business https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html#businesses
Dance Studies Association https://dancestudiesassociation.org/news/2020/resources-for-moving-dance-based-pedagogy-online
Work in Culture https://www.workinculture.ca/
Returning to the Studio - Guidelines for Teachers, Studio Owners and Students https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15-R8fUb9Zxbkj7gi76G97GxsEjSgodrbiwid_uQ7_6Q/edit#slide=id.p
Provincial Guidance for facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities during COVID-19 https://www.ontario.ca/page/guidance-facilities-sports-and-recreational-fitness-activities-during-covid-19
Tips for Making Online Classes Work for You
Dance Studios Can Open - Now What? The Dance Current
Rapid Tests Available for Small Businesses through the Ontario Chamber of Commerce details here
Minisrty of Health COVID-19 Safety Guidelines: Day Camps https://oca29.wildapricot.org/resources/Day_Camp_Guidance%20V.1.0%202021-05-26_.pdf
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDANCE
Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Entertainment, Museum and Gallery Employers from the Public Services Health and Safety Association
Return to Stage and Performing Arts Playbook from the American Guild of Musical Artists and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
#Lights on Venue Reopening Guide
Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide
Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide Six Month Update
The Live Performance Health and Safety during COVID-19 Guidelines approved by the Ontario Ministry of Training and Skills Development
Toronto Public Health (revised March 15, 2021) COVID-19 Guidance for Indoor & Outdoor Events & Gatherings
LEGAL RESOURCES
Mandatory vaccinations, rapid testing, screening, record retention and the law – Presentation Slides and Webinar (May 27, 2021, Gowlings WLG Law Firm)
COVID-19 vaccinations, the workplace and the law (June 15, 2021, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services)
IMPACT
Impact Statistics https://capacoa.ca/en/research/covid-impact-statistics/
I Lost my Gig Impact survey https://ilostmygig.ca/
OAC Survey Results Early COVID -19 Impacts on OAC Funded Organizations
Canada Council National Survey Results
Arts Response Tracking Survey ARTS
CAPACOA Employment in the arts and cultural industries
The National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts - Now More than Ever: Towards a National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts
National Arts and Culture Impact Survey (NACIS) Survey Results
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
The Resource Room - Live on Zoom / Online workshops supporting wellness & resilience in the dance community Hosted by DTRC https://www.facebook.com/events/247014299804705/
Mental Skills for Dance with Lauren Ritchie June 9 2- 3 pm Register
- Behind the Scenes – Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative
- Canadian Resources
- #BeThe 1To – Suicide Prevention Resources
- Stop Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation
- Toolbox Talk outlines (and scripts for 90-120 second talks) to help you talk about Mental Health with your team
- Anonymous Online Self-Assessment Tool
FINANCIAL WELLNESS
The AFC’s Financial Wellness Program
Front Row Insurance https://www.frontrowinsurance.com/
Financial Tipsheet from Young and Associates
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