Ontario Soccer, in consultation with Canada Soccer and the Government of Ontario, continues to monitor the most recent developments surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the resulting public health crisis and Ontario Soccer’s Return to Play Plan.

The Government of Ontario announced today that, as of November 7, 2020, it has moved Ontario Public Health Units into its new COVID-19 response framework to keep Ontario operating safely and to better manage the impact of the global pandemic.

The following are the new designations and the corresponding Public Health Units.  

Lockdown:

No public health unit regions

Red-Control:

• Peel Regional Health Unit.
• Toronto Public Health Unit (Beginning on Nov. 14, 2020 Toronto will move to Red with Additional Restrictions imposed by the local Public Health Unit) 

Orange-Restrict:

• Ottawa Public Health; and
• York Region Public Health.

Yellow-Protect:

• Brant County Health Unit;
• City of Hamilton Public Health Services;
• Durham Region Health Department;
• Eastern Ontario Health Unit;
• Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit;
• Halton Region Public Health;
• Niagara Region Public Health;
• Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services;
• Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit; and
• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.

Green-Prevent:

• Algoma Public Health;
• Chatham-Kent Public Health;
• Grey Bruce Health Unit;
• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health;
• Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit;
• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health;
• Huron Perth Public Health;
• Lambton Public Health;
• Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit;
• Middlesex-London Health Unit;
• North Bay Parry Sound District;
• Northwestern Health Unit;
• Peterborough Public Health;
• Porcupine Health Unit;
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts;
• Renfrew County and District Health Unit;
• Southwestern Public Health;
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit;
• Timiskaming Health Unit; and
• Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

With the Government of Ontario plan still being finalized, Ontario Soccer is working with the relevant Public Health and Sport authorities to update the Return to Play Guide with soccer specific guidelines and safety protocols. 

The updated Return to Play Guide is scheduled to be released to membership early next week.

Ontario Soccer will be scheduling educational webinars in the weeks to come and further details provided when confirmed.

Ontario Soccer request that all member organizations ensure they know what health unit they are part of. Click here to find your Public Health Unit.

Member organizations are encouraged to stay in contact with their local Public Health Unit and Municipality in the event these organizations have implemented additional restrictions that may impact their soccer operations.