Coronavirus Update: Health and Safety Precautions at Ontario Courthouses

In July, courtrooms across Ontario started hearing in-person proceedings.

Courtrooms are reopening in phases, as the necessary health and safety precautions are put in place to protect people entering the courthouse.

To limit the number of people entering the courthouse to submit their paperwork at the Registrar’s counter, people are encouraged, where possible, to file their materials online for:

• civil claims;
• small claims; and
• family law matters.

People can also file their paperwork for civil claims, small claims and family law matters by email at the Superior Court of Justice or the Ontario Court of Justice.

Precautions When Going to an Ontario Courthouse:

Heath and safety measures have been implemented to protect everyone who attends a courthouse, including:

• screening before entry
• enhanced cleaning
• hand sanitizer stations
• barriers
• physical distancing by staying two metres apart

All people are required to wear face coverings/ face masks at the courthouse.

Please bring your own water as courthouse drinking fountains are not available.

1. Covid-19 Screening Before Entering the Courthouse

Before entering a courthouse in Ontario, you will need to answer screening questions. Depending on the results, you may or may not be able to enter.

Online screening can be completed before attending at the courthouse. You will need to show the results before you will be able to enter.

When you arrive at the courthouse, staff will:

• ask why you’re there
• inform you of other ways you might be able to handle your matter, such as online filing of your civil claims, small claims, or family law matters or filing by email at the Superior Court of Justice or the Ontario Court of Justice.

Court staff will tell you about the safety measures in place and ask you to follow them while inside the court.

Court staff will ask you if a public health official or doctor has told you to self-isolate or if you have the following symptoms:

• fever
• cough
• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea

You may be asked to show court staff your belongings, deposit them in a bin for screening, or place them on an examination table.

There may be delays entering the courthouse so please give yourself enough time.

2. Enhanced Cleaning

Courthouses will continue regular cleaning. In addition, high-touch areas will be cleaned with Health Canada-approved disinfectant cleaners many times every day. These areas include:

• light switches and power outlets
• handrails
• entrance areas
• paper towel and toilet paper dispensers
• door knobs, handles and plates
• sinks and faucets
• desks
• chairs
• public service counters.

3. Hand Sanitizer Stations

Hand sanitizer dispensers are located in many places throughout each courthouse. Use these if you cannot wash your hands, or as a second way to disinfect.

4. Barriers

Plexiglass barriers are installed in the courthouse in the following areas:

• public counters;
• interview rooms; and
• intake offices.

Barriers are also installed in the following areas inside courtrooms:

• where the judge sits
• where the witness stands or sites to give testimony
• at court personnels’ work stations
• at Crown attorney and defense tables

5. Physical Distancing

While in the courthouse, the following measures will encourage physical distancing:

• signs to remind people to stay two metres apart
• stickers on the floors indicating where to stand when waiting in line to enter the courthouse, in waiting areas, and in restrooms
• arrows to show people which direction to walk
• signs to show people where to sit or where not to sit

Accessibility Issues: Courthouse Attendance for People With Disability

Ontario courthouses are requiring visitors to wear face masks/ face coverings during the Coronavirus pandemic. If you have an illness or disability that prevents you from wearing a face covering or going to court in-person, contact the courthouse accessibility coordinator to inform them of this.

Ontario Courthouse Counter Hours:

Public counter hours have been limited to:

• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

For payments at the counter:

• try to avoid hand-to-hand exchange of money, bank or credit cards
• use hand sanitizer after making payments at the counter.

Inside the Courtroom

Courtrooms have been modified and barriers have been installed to help ensure physical distancing where possible.

Self-cleaning:

You will be provided disinfectant wipes or other cleaners to disinfect areas you have touched.

Sharing documents or exhibits:

Court staff will use a bin or trolley to share documents or exhibits.

Wash or sanitize your hands before and after sharing documents or exhibits.

Where possible, consider other ways to share documents or signatures, including scanning or endorsing.

Courthouse Elevators

Whenever possible, only one person should be in the elevator at any time. When there are two or more people in the elevator, each person should try to:

• stay two metres apart
• wear a mask or face covering
• face the other way
• use a pen, key or something else to press buttons

Courthouse Escalators

When using an escalator, each person should try to:

• stay two metres from other people
• avoid touching handrails, unless necessary for safety.

Courthouse Public Washrooms

Public washrooms will be cleaned more often.

To support physical distancing:

• the number of people allowed inside at one time is limited. Signs will list how many people can enter;
• every other urinal will be closed;
• signs are posted to remind people to practice physical distancing and wash their hands

This information is reproduced from the government of Ontario website at https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-reopening-courtrooms