The Ontario-wide shutdown starts today, here's what that means

The provincewide shutdown starts today.

Thursday, Premier Doug Ford announced the activation of the emergency brake across Ontario to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

The changes take effect today and are in place for at least four weeks. It affects all 34 health units across Ontario.

Here's what you need to know:

• Schools will remain open with strict measures. Spring break will continue as planned the week of April 12.
• People are asked to limit trips outside the home for essential purposes. Those include food, medication, medical appointments, supporting vulnerable community members or exercising outdoors with members of their household.
• Employers should make "every effort" to have employees work from home.
• Indoor organized public events and social gatherings are prohibited. The capacity for outdoor organized public events or social gatherings is a maximum of five people, except for gatherings with members or the same household or gatherings with one household and one person from another household who lives alone.
• In-person shopping is restricted to 50 per cent capacity for supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers' markets, stores that primarily sell food, and pharmacies. The capacity is 25 per cent for all other retail, including big box stores. 
• Personal care services are prohibited. 
• Indoor and outdoor dining is prohibited. Restaurants are allowed to operate by take-out, drive-through and delivery.
• Gyms are closed.
• Capacity at weddings, funerals and religious services, rites or ceremonies is limited to 15 per cent capacity per room indoors. This does not include social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions, which are not permitted indoors and are limited to five people outdoors.