The province has officially extended its provincial state of emergency and all associated orders, including the stay-at-home order, for another 14 days.**
The state of emergency and stay at home order was announced Jan. 12. According to provincial law, a state of emergency can last 14 days, then it must be extended by government order or it will lapse.
“Today, the government extended the declared provincial emergency for another 14 days,” said Ontario in a news release.
All orders under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act including the stay-at-home order, enforcement of COVID-19 measures and residential eviction are extended as a result.
That means anyone caught violating the stay-at-home order could still face fines and prosecution under both the EMPCA and the Reopening Ontario Act.
Indoor social gatherings are prohibited, outdoor gatherings are capped at five people, and residents are able to leave their homes only for essential reasons.
**Clarification: We have been made aware that it was not clear exactly what the province had announced on Jan. 25. We have amended the second paragraph of the article for clarity. From the Ontario Government site: "Today, the government extended the declared provincial emergency for another 14 days. The declaration of emergency made under section 7.0.1 of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA), originally declared on January 12, 2021, will now expire on February 9, 2021, unless extended further. All orders under the EMCPA, including O. Reg 11/21 (Stay-at-Home Order), O. Reg 8/21 (Enforcement of COVID-19 Measures) and O. Reg 13/21 (Residential Evictions) were also extended. Orders under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) continue to be in force."
