Looser COVID-19 restrictions are on the way for Huron Perth.

Ontario officials have announced our region will shift to Yellow-Protect from Orange-Restrict as of 12:01 a.m. Monday.

That means passive screening will be in place when going to stores and private organized events, like in your backyard or at the park, are still limited to ten people inside and twenty-five people outside.

Organized events at staffed business facilities will still be set at 50 people inside and 100 people outside.

Restaurants and bars must have two metres between tables, but there’s no maximum amount of people allowed inside.

Six people are allowed at one table at a time.

Gyms remain limited limited to fifty people.

At long-term care homes that are not in outbreak, essential visitors are permitted to visit including up to two caregivers visiting a resident at a time.

Up to two general visitors are allowed to visit a resident at a time.

General visitors and caregivers must also demonstrate that they have received a negative PCR test result in the past two weeks and verbally attest to not having tested positive after.

They can also have a negative antigen test result on the day of the visit.

“Locally, our COVID-19 numbers have been going in the right direction,” says Dr. Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health. “I’m pleased that a number of outbreaks have ended.  I hope we can maintain these positive trends.”

“I am concerned about how easily the COVID-19 variants can spread and increase our numbers,” Dr.Klassen added, ” I continue to urge everyone to follow public health and personal measures.”