Food Premises and Events

Proof of Vaccination Requirements for Patrons - Guidance for Businesses and Organizations

Effective September 22, 2021, patrons will be required to provide proof of vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings. Provincial regulations and guidance documents to support implementation of these requirements are provided here:

• Proof of Vaccination Regulatory Requirements 
• Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations
• Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations – Questions and Answers
• Using your Vaccination Receipt- FAQ

Provincial Rules under the Reopening Ontario Act

Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen is a three-step plan to safely and gradually lift public health measures.

For an overview of provincial rules currently in effect:

• COVID-19 public health measures and advice

For detailed rules, review the regulations below. Note that all regulations include general rules applicable to all businesses and organizations, followed by additional sector-specific rules.

• Rules for Step 1 - Ontario Regulation 82/20
• Rules for Step 2 - Ontario Regulation 263/20
• Rules for Step 3 - Ontario Regulation 364/20

WDGPH Section 22 Class Order – Face Coverings

• Face Covering Section 22 Class Order

Workplace Safety Plan

Most businesses are required to have a safety plan and make it available upon request. Visit the COVID-19 response framework to determine if your business is required to have a workplace safety plan.

• Province of Ontario - Develop your COVID-19 workplace safety plan

Screening Tools for Workplaces

All businesses and organizations are required to actively screen employees prior to entry to the workplace.

Some businesses, including food and drink establishments, meeting and event spaces, conference centres and convention centres, are also required to actively screen patrons. For further details, visit Screening Patrons - A Tool for Businesses and Organization.

• Ontario’s COVID-19 Worker and Employee Screening Questions (scroll to the bottom for printable version)
• Ontario’s COVID-19 Customer Screening Questions (scroll to the bottom for printable version)

Collecting Patron Information

• COVID19 Contact Information Form – for Food Premises

WDGPH Guidance Documents

• COVID-19 Guidance for Restaurants & Other Food Premises - Updated July 29, 2021 
• COVID-19 Guidance for Farmers’ and Fresh Food Markets
• COVID-19 Guidance for Emergency Food Providers/Food Banks 
• COVID-19 Guidance for Public Washrooms

For further information on gathering limits, please refer to our Events and Gatherings page. 

Collecting Patron Information

• COVID19 Contact Information Form – for Food Premises

Ontario resources related to food services or events

• Guidance for restaurant and food services sector
• Guidance for food processing sector
• Food retail – food retail sector
• Restaurants – restaurant servers, cooks and dishwashers
• Restaurant and food services sector tip sheet
• Guidance for professional meeting and event facilities during COVID-19

Public Health Agency of Canada

• Risk Mitigation Tool for Gatherings and Events Operating During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

In the Workplace

• WDGPH: Workplaces and Businesses

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Putting on and taking off PPE handout
• Workplace PPE Supplier Directory for an up-to-date list of Ontario companies and business associations that supply PPE

Cleaning and Disinfection for Public Settings

• Public Health Ontario - Cleaning and disinfection for public settings
• Public Health Agency of Canada - Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19
• Health Canada - Hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that prior to reopening, that you have met the requirements as outlined in the information and resources provided above.   Please also be aware that Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is unable to review individual business reopening plans.  An inspection of your facility will occur in the near future, based on risk assessments and Public Health Inspector capacity and availability as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Due to the volume of calls and questions we receive, we may be unable to respond to questions in a timely manner.  Please make all efforts to thoroughly review the information and resources provided above.

If, after reviewing the resources available, you have additional questions, you can contact a public health inspector at 519-822-2715 extension 4753 or PHI.Intake@wdgpublichealth.ca