West Nipissing will be part of the provincial wide shut down come December 26. The shutdown is expected to look like the lockdown we had in March. Northern Ontario will be under shutdown for 14 days unless extended.
With the lockdowns comes a ban on indoor social gatherings, with anyone outside of your household, the closure of many non-essential businesses and most fitness facilities, as well as limiting restaurants and bars to take-out and delivery services only.
The municipality shares it is actively monitoring the situation and continues to follow proper protocol as per local health authorities.
Effective at 4 pm on December 24, the Municipal Office will be closed for all walk-in visits for the duration of the lockdown. For inquiries and appointments, residents may contact the municipality by phone or email ([email protected]).
The pool and fitness centre will be closed until January 11.
Arenas will be closed for the duration of the shutdown.
The assessment centre will be open from 10 am to 4 pm but will close on December 24, 25, 31 and January 1.
Curbside pickup will not be affected for both waste and recycling.
The Sturgeon Falls landfill is closed to the general public until Monday, January 11. The free Saturday of the month is rescheduled to January 16.
Snow removal and road maintenance services will not be impacted.
Outdoor rinks are permitted under shutdown. Preparations are currently underway to open them when weather permits. Heated facilities, change rooms and public washrooms will not be available. A maximum of 15 people will be permitted on the ice at a time.
Grey-Lockdown restrictions include:
- No indoor public events or social gatherings allowed, except with members of the same household.
- Outdoor gatherings limited to 10 people as long as physical distance is maintained.
- Restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments must close to all indoor dining, can remain open for takeout, delivery, and drive through.
- Retail stores must close to in-person shopping, can remain open for curbside pick-up and delivery.
- Personal services such as hair and nail salons closed.
- Casinos, bingo halls, theatres, museums, sports and recreational facilities, meeting spaces and event spaces must all close.
- Grocery stores, pharmacies, safety supply stores convenience stores, hardware stores, beer, wine and LCBO stores to remain open at 50-percent capacity
- Weddings, funerals and other religious services, rites or ceremonies are allowed with 10 people indoors or 10 people outdoors and physical distancing maintained.
- Virtual and drive-in services, rites or ceremonies are allowed.