The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is reminding the public that the province-wide stay-at-home order is in effect for another two weeks.
And that means several outdoor facilities will remain closed for the time being.
With the long holiday weekend this weekend, people are being reminded the order was extended until June 2, 2021. That means people must stay at home and should only go out for necessities, such as groceries, medicine, health care, outdoor exercise or walking pets, work that cannot be done remotely, and child care or school.
There is no gathering indoors or outdoors allowed with anyone you do not live with, except one other person from outside of the household that lives alone.
Sports and recreation activities such as parks, playgrounds and play structures, and off-leash dog parks are allowed as long as two metres physical distancing can be maintained. However, outdoor recreational amenities, outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields must remain closed, including baseball diamonds, soccer fields, frisbee golf locations, tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, BMX parks and skate parks, park areas with outdoor fitness equipment, and all outdoor picnic sites and picnic tables in park and recreational areas.
"Specifically, the municipality wants to highlight that the Provincial Government has ordered that the use of picnic tables in public spaces and those associated with restaurants and food services establishments are closed," wrote the municipality in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.
Restaurants in Ontario are currently restricted to take-out service only.
The Beach Bus has also been suspended until further notice. The route providing service between Mitchell’s Bay and Erieau was originally scheduled to begin service on Saturday, May 22 but due to the extension of the provincial stay-at-home order, the Beach Bus will not start operating until the provincial order has been lifted.
The Municipality is responsible for enforcing the closures ordered by the province and said it looks forward to reopening services as soon as they are permitted by the Provincial Government.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said he hopes the order will end on June 2 so that the economy can start reopening again. The mayor is also urging people to support businesses when the time comes.
