Step One vs. Yellow Zone: A look at COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa and Gatineau
The Quebec government further relaxes COVID-19 restrictions in Gatineau and western Quebec today, allowing indoor gatherings and bars, breweries and taverns to reopen.
The Outaouais is one of ten regions across Quebec moving to the "Level 2 – Early Warning" yellow zone.
Under the yellow zone restrictions, indoor gatherings are permitted with members of up to two households. A maximum of eight people from different households or all the occupants from two households are allowed to gather outdoors. Bars, taverns and brasseries are also allowed to reopen at 50 per cent capacity, but singing and dancing remains prohibited.
As Gatineau enters the "Level 2 – Early Warning" zone, Ottawa is spending its first week in Step One of Ontario's COVID-19 reopening plan. In Ottawa, outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people are permitted, bar and restaurant patios are open and non-essential businesses are open at 15 per cent capacity.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at the different rules in Ottawa and Gatineau as the COVID-19 restrictions ease.
Ottawa: Ottawa is in Step One of Ontario's three step Roadmap to Reopen plan.
Gatineau: Gatineau is in the Level 2 – Early Warning (yellow) zone
SOCIAL GATHERINGS
Ottawa
- Indoor gatherings: Prohibited
- Outdoor gatherings: Social gatherings and organized public events for up to 10 people are permitted.
Gatineau
- Indoor gatherings: Limited to the occupants of two households
- Outdoor gatherings: Maximum of eight people from different households or all occupants from two households
A party is seen in an image from shutterstock.com
INTERPROVINCIAL TRAVEL
Ottawa
The Ontario government has imposed a non-essential travel ban on travel between Ontario and Quebec. The restrictions are scheduled to end on June 16.
Gatineau
The Quebec government says travel between regions and cities is "not recommended, but it is possible."
Quebec says its border between Quebec and Ontario is also closed to non-essential travel.
A driver shows identification to an Ottawa police officer as a checkpoint as vehicles enter the province from Quebec Monday April 19, 2021 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
RELIGIOUS SERVICES, RITES OR CEREMONIES, INCLUDING WEDDING SERVICES AND FUNERAL SERVICES
Ottawa
- Indoors: 15 per cent capacity of the room is permitted
- Outdoors: Permitted with capacity limited to permit physical distancing of two metres
Gatineau
- A maximum of 250 participants are allowed in a place of worship.
- Weddings and funerals in places of worship limited to 50 people
BARS AND RESTAURANTS
Ottawa
Outdoor dining permitted with four people per table from different households
Indoor dining rooms remain closed
Gatineau
Restaurants: Open (including patios). The occupants of a maximum of two private residences can share the same table
Bars, breweries, taverns: Open with the following restrictions:
- 50 per cent of the maximum capacity stipulated on the liquor licence
- Occupants from maximum two private residences per table
- Customers must remain seated at their table
- Dancing and singing are prohibited
Terrasses are also open.
Mayor Jim Watson raises his glass towards reporters and passersby as he joins his sister Jayne Watson, right, and her husband Peter Froislie on a pub's outdoor patio in Ottawa as part of a photo opportunity to encourage residents to be kind and generous to service workers, on the first day of Ontario's first phase of re-opening amidst the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, on Friday, June 11, 2021. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
RETAIL
Ottawa
- Essential and select retail at 25 per cent capacity and can sell all goods (including discount and big box)
- Non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity
- Retail stores in malls closed unless the stores have a street facing entrance
Gatineau
- All stores open. One person per household recommended
- Shopping malls must ensure adequate supervision of common areas to avoid any gathering or loitering
People line up outside a Lululemon Athletica store in Ottawa, as non-essential retail stores re-open with limited in-store capacity, on the first day of Ontario's first phase of re-opening amidst the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, on Friday, June 11, 2021. (Justin Tang /THE CANADIAN PRESS)
PERSONAL CARE SERVICES
Ottawa
- Closed
Gatineau
- All personal care and esthetic care settings are permitted to open
- Reservations are mandatory for spas and a customer register must be kept.
Protective barriers are placed between hair washing stations at Salon TOK in Gatineau. The salon is one of many that will be allowed to open in Quebec June 1, 2020. (Leah Larocque / CTV News Ottawa)
SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL FITNESS FACILITIES, PERSONAL FITNESS AND SPORTS
Ottawa
- Indoor sports and fitness centres are closed
- Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor sports training and outdoor personal training allowed, with 10 patrons maximum
- Outdoor fitness classes allowed with 10 people maximum
Gatineau
- Gyms are open
- Sports and recreational activities permitted in public places in groups of up to 12 people
- Supervised sports and recreational activities may be carried out in groups of no more than 25 individuals. Organized games and matches as well as leagues are permitted, but spectators are not recommended.
CINEMAS
Ottawa
- Indoor cinemas are closed
- Outdoor drive-in movie theatres are allowed to open
Gatineau
- Cinemas are open with a maximum of 250 people
- Eating and drinking permitted
Movie theatre popcorn seen in this generic file photo. (Pixabay / Pexels)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.