Chatham-Kent moves back into Orange

CHATHAM-KENT — As of Monday, March 1, Chatham-Kent Public Health was moved into the Orange-Protect status under the province’s COVID-19 framework.

This will allow residents of Chatham-Kent a few freedoms that their neighbours in Windsor Essex won’t have.

Social gatherings will now have a limit of 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors. For organized public gatherings, in staffed businesses, where social distance can be maintained, the new limits are 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Religious services, including weddings and funeral services, will get a boost up to 30 per cent of capacity of the room indoors and up to 100 people outdoors.

Restaurants will see the biggest difference as patrons indoors can now number up to 50, provided social distancing measures can be maintained.

Sports and recreational facilities can go back to levels from before the Christmas holidays and arenas may now open, with a maximum of 50 people indoors at these facilities. Strict screening of participants is required.

Meanwhile, Windsor-Essex remains in Red: Control status and is expected to stay there until local numbers improve.

For more information on Chatham-Kent’s new status, visit ckphu.com.

For updates on the Windsor-Essex status, visit wechu.org.