Churches remain open, but at lower capacity, as Ontario puts on ‘emergency brake’

With rising COVID-19 cases across Ontario, the provincial government has implemented a province-wide “emergency brake” that will lower capacity for worship services.

The move comes shortly after areas outside of Toronto and Peel Region had been allowed to welcome up to 30-per-cent capacity in churches. That has now been scaled back to 15-per-cent capacity, which Toronto and Peel churches were allowed following the Archdiocese of Toronto-led “A Place to Worship” campaign to loosen restrictions from a hard cap of 10 people, including pastor, at worship services.

The restrictions come into place at 12:01 a.m. April 3 and will remain in place for at least four weeks. The move is expected to cause some chaos in parishes heading into Easter. Parishes had been taking reservations for Easter celebrations at 30-per-cent capacity but will have to pivot to the mandated 15 per cent.