The Province of Ontario has announced that the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit - including Northumberland County - will move from the Green (Prevent) category of the Provincial COVID-19 Response Framework to the Yellow (Protect) category as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday, December 7, 2020, in an effort to prevent additional spread of COVID-19 in our community.

“I know that news of increased restrictions is discouraging for some,” notes Bob Sanderson, Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope. “Throughout this pandemic, there has been a lot of information to absorb, a lot of changes to adjust to, and I know this has been difficult for our residents and businesses. It has been a hard eight months. I’m very proud of the effort our residents have put forward during this health care emergency to take care of each other and keep our community strong and safe, and I want us to continue in this same spirit.”

With the move into the Yellow-Control level, some of the key changes include:

  • Restaurants/bars must close at midnight.
  • Alcohol can no longer be sold or served after 11:00 p.m.
  • A limit of six people can be seated at one table in restaurants.
  • Eateries and other select businesses must keep contact information for all patrons who dine in.
  • Gyms and fitness clubs must increase spacing between patrons to 3 metres (from 2 metres) in areas with weights or exercise equipment, as well as in exercise/fitness classes.
  • The volume of music in stores and businesses must be low enough so a normal conversation is possible, and shouting is not required.
  • Most businesses must now complete a COVID-19 safety plan and make it available upon request

The Yellow-Protect level is the second lowest in Ontario’s five-level COVID-19 Framework. As well as Green and Yellow, there are: Orange-Restrict, Red-Control and Grey-Lockdown. These public health measures can be adjusted, tightened, or loosened based on local COVID-19 trends and case counts. The colour code for each area is reviewed weekly by the Ontario Ministry of Health.

For more information about the Yellow (Protect) category, and the entire provincial framework, please visit the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework page. 

The Jack Burger Sports Complex and the Town Park Recreation Centre remain open, and we continue to offer modified programming, while adhering to all COVID guidelines and health measures. A reduction in capacity limits for some programs will be implemented on Monday, December 7, 2020, when the Winter 1 session program registration opens.

The Port Hope Public Library also remains open, with limited service to adhere to the COVID guidelines.

“I encourage everyone to continue following the advice of our public health professionals,” continues Mayor Sanderson. “Limit your interactions to people within your own household. Continue to stay home whenever you can - and wear a mask, maintain physical distancing, and wash your hands frequently when you cannot. These are the personal actions each of us should continue to take to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.”

Visit our dedicated COVID-19 webpage for additional details about municipal business continuity and impacts to municipal services, facilities, and amenities.