This is a letter to all businesses for compliance with new legislation

November 26, 2020

To persons responsible for a business or organization in the municipalities in the County of Simcoe, the District of
Muskoka, and the Cities of Orillia and Barrie:

Re: Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Instructions to persons responsible for a business or organization, in the
County of Simcoe, the District of Muskoka, and the Cities of Orillia and Barrie, that are permitted to open under the
Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, S.O. 2020, c.17, as amended, and associated
Regulations, as amended.

Instructions for Additional Public Health Measures in the County of Simcoe, the District of Muskoka and Cities of
Orillia and Barrie.

As the transmission of COVID-19 continues to grow within Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), and indeed
throughout the rest of the province and the country, we are facing a critical time in our fight against this disease. We
must reinforce and increase our efforts to contain its spread. This second wave of transmission impacts our lives, our
businesses, our work, and the ability of our healthcare system to manage the increased demands on its services.
Our local data indicates that COVID-19 cases in our area are at the highest levels to date, confirming the upward surge
of this disease, currently placing us in the Orange/Restrict level of the province’s current COVID-19 Response
Framework. Furthermore, in keeping with provincial projections we are on track for much higher disease levels unless
we take more action to curb its spread.

Key factors contributing to transmission is close contact between individuals in both work and social settings, which
then spreads the disease easily to individuals within households. In particular, since September 2020, SMDHU has
observed a substantial increase in workplace transmission, often resulting in outbreaks. This is due, in part, to a failure
of workplaces to meet the requirements of the provincial health and safety legislation and the public health preventive
measures for the workplace.

As a result, I am issuing the following Instruction to the businesses and organizations within the municipalities serviced
by SMDHU requiring them to take additional measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as provided below.
Instructions to persons responsible for businesses and organizations:
Effective November 30th, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., I am instructing all persons responsible for a business or organization in
the County of Simcoe, District of Muskoka, City of Barrie, and the City of Orillia to implement the following measures:

1. Appoint a Compliance Officer responsible for the implementation of a COVID-19 safety plan (as described in
   section 5 of Schedule 1 of O.Reg. 364/20) and the compliance with that safety plan and the implementation and
   compliance with all required and recommended occupational health and safety and infection prevention and
   control measures.
2. Enable remote work for workers, where reasonably possible, to reduce the number of workers exposed to the
   workplace.
3. Ensure workplace active screening is conducted daily for all workers attending the workplace in-person.
   Screening should occur before or when a worker enters the workplace at the beginning of their day or shift.
4. Ensure that physical distancing of workers takes place by at least 2 metres in the workplace, where reasonably
   possible, and during eating and rest periods (i.e. lunchrooms, change rooms). One-way walkways and
   workflows shall be provided where applicable to reduce the potential for and occurrence of close physical
   interaction between individuals, including between workers.
5. Barriers such as plexiglass should be used where reasonably possible, in particular in environments where
   physical distancing cannot take place.
6. Ensure appropriate use of masks or face coverings, in accordance with the Regulations under the Reopening
   Ontario Act: The person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall ensure that any person in
   the indoor area of the premises of the business or organization, or in a vehicle that is operating as part of the
   business or organization, wears a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin
   during any period when they are in the indoor area, unless the person in the indoor area performs work for the
   business or organization is in an area that is not accessible to members of the public and is able to maintain a
   physical distance of at least two metres from every other person while in the indoor area. Face shields are not an
   appropriate substitution for a mask or face covering.
7. Ensure appropriate use of personal protective equipment, in accordance with the Regulations under the
   Reopening Ontario Act: A person shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment that provides protection
   of the person’s eyes, nose and mouth if, in the course of providing services, the person, (a) is required to come
   within two metres of another person who is not wearing a mask or face covering in a manner that covers that
   person’s mouth, nose and chin during any period when that person is in an indoor area; and (b) is not separated
   by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier from a person described in 7(a).
8. Ensure supplies and facilities are provided for adequate hand hygiene to take place in work and rest/eating
   areas within the workplace including the supply of alcohol-based hand rub for workers and visitors.
9. Take appropriate infection prevention and control measures in all areas accessible to the public, including
   washrooms, check-out counters, concession stands, and other high-touch surfaces (i.e. doorknobs,
   accessible/elevator buttons, pay machines, etc.).
10. Minimize instances of more than one individual per vehicle for driving associated with work, and when
    unavoidable, ensure face coverings are supplied to and used by each individual, ensure distancing to the degree
    most possible, and ensure the use of increased ventilation to the outdoors (i.e. through a partially open
    window) in vehicles, where possible.
11. Conduct, or have the property owner or landlord conduct a regular review of heating, ventilation, and air
    conditioning (HVAC) systems in the workplace, except motor vehicles, to ensure they are functioning and in
    good working order and report any problems to the SMDHU.
12. Ensure that accurate and updated contact information for all workers is available to be produced to SMDHU
    within 24 hours of request from SMDHU in support of case management and contact tracing requirements for
    COVID-19.
13. Ensure that all unplanned absences by workers are investigated by the Compliance Officer for any risk of
    COVID-19 exposure, and, those workers with COVID-19 symptoms or who have been identified as a close
    contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19, are to be encouraged by the Compliance Officer to self-isolate
    and seek assessment and testing. The worker should be directed to the SMDHU Order dated October 6, 2020
    regarding self-isolation.
14. Follow all legislative requirements to protect worker health and safety (Occupational Health and Safety Act),
    and any further instructions, directions and guidance provided by SMDHU, the Government of Ontario and
    Federal Government pertaining to COVID-19 and the terms of these Instructions. This may include ensuring
    adherence to isolation orders issued to employees, ensuring the required public health measures such as active
    screening and physical distancing are always maintained within a workplace and supporting all aspects of
    investigations and outbreak management related to communicable diseases, including COVID-19, conducted by
    SMDHU.

Please be reminded that you are required to comply with the above instructions as set out in the Regulations under the
Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.

For the purpose of these Instructions:

• “worker” means any employee, independent contractor, manager, director, officer, owner, partner,
  shareholder, volunteer, student or any other person engaged in the business or organization activity at the
  workplace.
  • “workplace” means any place, space, building or vehicle used in or for the operation of a business or
  organization.
  • Enforcement associated with these instructions may be conducted by police officers as well as provincial
  offences officers (which includes municipal bylaw offers and public health enforcement personnel).
• These measures are intended to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 where the collective efforts of various sectors,
  including workplaces are required to protect our communities.

Sincerely,
ORIGINAL Signed By:
Charles Gardner, MD, CCFP, MHSc, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health
CG:c