As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it's important for business owners to be aware of the various stages of opening so that they can operate within the provincial government's instruction, in order to keep everyone safe.

View current COVID-19 public health updates, follow our news and notices, as well as our Whitby Economic Development Twitter account for continuing information.

Province-wide shutdown

The Ontario government has ordered a province-wide shutdown beginning Saturday, December 26. The shutdown includes the full closure of non-essential businesses.

In Whitby, the new restrictions are in place until Saturday, January 23, 2021.

Effective December 26, 2020:

• Indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants and bars is no longer permitted. Take-out, drive-through, delivery and curbside pick-up can continue.
• Indoor gyms and fitness centres must close, while outdoor sports, classes and use of amenities are now limited to 10 people.
• Personal care services (including hair and nail salons), movie theatres and performing arts facilities must also close. 

The Province is encouraging any business with questions about the province-wide shutdown to call 1.855.216.3090 or visit ontario.ca/covidsupport for more information. 

More information about the time-limited restrictions and public health and workplace safety measures during the province-wide shutdown is available on the Province of Ontario’s website.

Small Business Support Grant

Small businesses required to close or restrict services under the province-wide shutdown can apply for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant. The grant provides a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to eligible small business owners.

Reopening guidelines

The Province of Ontario's COVID-19 Response Framework outlines how the provincial government is keeping residents safe through safe opening and control measures, including those specific to regional health, public health and workplaces. Learn more about provincial supports.

We encourage all Whitby businesses to review the Durham Region Community Reopening Toolkit, which includes critical information, such as:

• Current business opening levels and statuses
• Special instructions issued by the Durham Region Medical Officer of Health
• Downloadable checklists, signage, posters and resources
• Workplace safety post-pandemic playbooks and safety plans
• Sector-specific guidance

Preventing COVID-19 in the workplace

The Province of Ontario also offers resources to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace, such as:

• Knowing your responsibilities and rights as an employer
• How to develop a workplace safety plan
• Reading your sector-specific guidance
• How to find personal protection equipment (PPE) and sanitization supplies
• Accessing COVID-19 related signage and posters

Business reopening safety kits

You can contact us to request your own reopening safety kit for your business, which includes:

• One-litre bottle of hand sanitizer, provided by Brock Street Brewery
• Two floor decals
• Two physical distancing posters
• Mandatory masks poster
• Hours of operation poster
• Non-medical face masks

The Canadian Business Resilience Network also offers its own reopening toolkit, which offers guidance to help you:

• Update your operations plan
• Update your health and safety plan
• Communicate those plans and procedures to your staff, customers and suppliers
• Know how to access any required personal protective equipment
• Continue to access government financial supports
• Understand the social services, such as childcare, that are available to you and your staff
• Be aware of the wide array of additional supports, resources and guides that are available

How we are supporting local businesses

We are committed to supporting local business through COVID-19. Our goal is to ensure that businesses have the information and support they need to return to operation as quickly as possible, when it is safe to do so.

We monitor and share important government updates that impact local businesses.

Eat, shop and support local businesses

To encourage local shopping during COVID-19, we have partnered with other community economic development organizations to promote opportunities to eat, shop and support local businesses that are open.

What's Open Whitby map

Quickly search for local businesses that are open, from restaurants to retail shops, gardening centres and more, using our What's Open Whitby map. The map showcases businesses offering in-store service, contactless delivery and curbside pick-up.

You can add your own local business to the map and get involved in the action!

Eat local

You can check out more restaurants offering dining, takeout, curbside pick-up and delivery options with the BIA.

Whitby Economic Recovery Plan

Our Economic Recovery Plan identifies five priority areas that guides the Town's local economic recovery efforts:

1. Retain existing businesses by providing resources and support programs
2. Revitalize Whitby's downtowns by managing main street impact
3. Foster and sustain growth in the innovation economy
4. Engage with post-secondary institutions and other service providers to improve workforce employability
5. Improve customer service processes and business experiences

View our Economic Recovery Plan

Government and partner supports

There are a wealth of additional resources available from our partners and other levels of government in Canada.