TORONTO — One of Ontario’s long-standing COVID-19 hot spots returns to the province’s colour-coded system of pandemic restrictions today, while a stay-at-home order remains in effect for three others. 

Businesses in York Region are allowed to reopen as the public health unit returns to the second-most restrictive red level of public health precautions. 

Non-essential retailers and restaurants can welcome customers back, with capacity limits and physical distancing in place. 

York has long logged some of Ontario’s highest COVID-19 case counts, but the region’s chief medical officer of health requested that the province move it back to the tiered framework to bring it in line with most of Ontario’s other public health units. 

The stay-at-home order remains in effect only for Toronto, Peel and North Bay-Parry Sound until at least March 8. 

Meanwhile, the province’s chief public health officer is due to testify before a commission investigating how Ontario’s response to COVID-19 affected long-term care homes. 

Dr. David Williams’ comments will not be live-streamed, but the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission is expected to post a transcript at a later date. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2021. 

The Canadian Press

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