Stouffville Reopening Phases
The Stouffville Reopens plan includes three overarching phases, each aligning generally with the Province of Ontario’s Reopening Framework.
Through each phase, the health and safety of residents and Town staff will be the primary focus, continuing to balance the needs of the community, Town Council and municipal business.
Reopening Stouffville will be gradual, safe and measured.
The Town will follow the lead of the Province of Ontario and take direction from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health, our local Medical Officer of Health and other public health officials. Advice from these professionals will determine the speed that we proceed through the phases of reopening and will help to determine if health and safety measures need to be adjusted at any time. No dates are referenced for any of the phases.
Everyday actions to protect the health of residents and Town staff – like physical distancing, frequent hand washing and staying home if you are sick – will continue through each phase.
If required, the Town is prepared to implement more stringent public health measures or move backwards in the phased approach in order to keep residents and staff safe. Some elements may move between phases faster than others based on advice from public health officials and the situation in Whitchurch-Stouffville.
PHASE ONE – The Early Stages
Phase One of Stouffville Reopens is focused on delivering the highest priority municipal services. During Phase One, Town operations will look like:
- All municipal facilities and offices remain closed to the public
- Recreation programs and events remain cancelled
- Limited return to the workplace for staff delivering high-priority services
- Limited return to the workplace for staff working alone or in small groups outdoors
- Many staff continue to work from home
- Staff who were redeployed to support COVID-19 emergency response efforts will continue in their temporary positions
- Restrictions on the number of people gathering to follow Provincial Orders
- Some outdoor municipal amenities are open to the public
- Many Town services are available online
PHASE TWO – Gradual Recovery
Phase Two of Stouffville Reopens is focused on safely expanding the municipal services available to residents and returning more staff to work. During Phase Two, Town operations will look like:
- Some municipal facilities and offices reopen to the public with measures to enable physical distancing and health screening upon entry
- Most recreation programming and events remain cancelled
- Where required, staff will return to the workplace under enhanced health and safety guidelines with strict adherence to physical distancing, health screening upon entry, and restrictions on gatherings
- Many staff continue to work from home
- Staff who were redeployed to support COVID-19 emergency response efforts will continue in their temporary positions
- Restrictions on the number of people gathering to follow Provincial Orders
- Most outdoor municipal amenities are open to the public
- Many Town services are available both online and in person with enhanced health and safety measures in place for staff and residents accessing services at municipal facilities
PHASE THREE – Our New Reality
Phase Three of Stouffville Reopens is our new reality. It is focused on continuing to deliver municipal services in a safe and responsible manner while the risk of COVID-19 infection remains in our community. Phase Three will be lengthy. It will continue until a COVID-19 vaccine or other treatments are available and are in widespread use. During Phase Three, Town operations will look like:
- Most municipal facilities and offices reopen to the public with measures to enable physical distancing and health screening upon entry
- Most recreation programming and events will return under enhanced health and safety guidelines
- More staff may return to the workplace under enhanced health and safety guidelines
- Many staff continue to work from home
- Staff who were redeployed to support COVID-19 emergency response efforts may continue in their temporary positions
- Relaxed restrictions on the number of people gathering to follow the Provincial Orders
- Outdoor municipal amenities are open to the public
- Many Town services are available both online and in person with health and safety measures in place for staff and residents accessing services at municipal facilities