​This afternoon the Province of Ontario announced that York Region will move to the Red-Control zone of the Provincial Reopening Framework on Monday, February 22. The province made the decision to move York Region back into the Framework at the Red-Control level based on general improvements of key indicators. York Region will no longer be subject to the stay-at-home order, however Public Health has strongly advised people to continue to stay at home and avoid social gatherings to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
 
The Town of Newmarket is happy to move forward with a reopening plan and begin to offer increased services, amenities and programs to the community in the near future. Town of Newmarket services and facilities that are currently closed or cancelled will not immediately resume the week of February 22, as the Town continues to finalize plans for the safe reopening of facilities, amenities and programs. The Town will provide an update on the overall plans and timelines for reopening next week.
 
“As Newmarket moves forward into the Red-Control zone beginning next week, we look forward to welcoming our community back into some of our facilities in the very near future and to gradually begin to resume some safe programming and events that we have all greatly missed. We are excited for the reopening of our restaurants and small businesses who have faced great challenges and continue to amaze us with their perseverance and innovation,” says Newmarket Mayor John Taylor. “I can’t stress enough that we must proceed with caution, it is crucial that we continue to follow all Public Health guidelines, so that we hopefully don’t have to face another shutdown in the coming weeks and months. I’m so proud of how our community has come together throughout these unbelievably challenging times and look forward to a light and the end of the tunnel.”

Outdoor recreation activities that are currently open like skating at Riverwalk Commons and other community outdoor rinks, Pickleball (Quaker Park) and tennis (Keith Davis Tennis Centre - outdoor) will remain open with existing health and safety measures in place. For information on what is currently open and closed in Newmarket, please visit newmarket.ca/reopen.

Under the red-control zone, restaurants are permitted to open for indoor dining and retail, gyms and hair salons are permitted to reopen, all with reduced capacity and strict guidelines in place.

Outdoor gatherings with a maximum of 25 people and indoor gatherings with a maximum of 5 people are also permitted in the red zone. Weddings and religious services can resume with 30 per cent indoor capacity and no more than 100 people outdoors. For more information please refer to the Provincial Reopening Framework.
 
Support for Local Businesses
The Town urges the community to continue to support local businesses by Choosing Local. Visit the Town’s online shopping directory to easily search for and support Newmarket businesses all in one place at newmarket.ca/chooselocal.

Local businesses seeking guidance and support in continuing to navigate the COVID-19 landscape can contact the Town’s Business Assistance Concierge at newmarket.ca/BAC for assistance.

The Town will continue to work closely with York Region Public Health and take direction from the Province of Ontario as we try to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 

For more information on COVID-19 in Newmarket, please visit newmarket.ca/covid19, for information on what is open and what is closed in Newmarket, please visit newmarket.ca/reopen. For further information on COVID-19 in York Region, please visit york.ca/covid19