Ontario Government Releases List of Essential Workplaces Permitted to Operate During COVID-19 Closure Order

As set out in our earlier post, the Ontario government announced that it would be ordering the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces, effective at 11:59PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

Yesterday evening the government released its list of essential workplaces that will be permitted to remain open while the order is in effect. The list can be viewed here.

The government has clarified that the mandatory closure of "non-essential" businesses does not preclude those businesses from providing work and/or services either online, by telephone, or by mail/delivery. Teleworking and online commerce are permitted at all times for all businesses.

Please contact your regular lawyer at the Firm if you are concerned about how the closure order may impact your business. We will continue to monitor developments related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workplace and will post further updates as information becomes available.