No haircuts, malls or restaurant patios in Hamilton, Halton or Haldimand and Norfolk

Current pandemic restrictions will remain largely in place in hot spots like Hamilton and Halton as most of Ontario moves on to the next stage of reopening.

We need to keep a close eye on regions that will not open this Friday and we need just a little more time," said Premier Doug Ford. We'll continue talking to local officials who are playing a critical role in determining what areas can open. I'm confident the rest of the province will get to stage two very, very soon."

Places with ongoing community spread of COVID-19 - like Hamilton - are also causing concern federally, with Canada's chief public health officer calling them the nation's trouble spots."

Some of Canada's hot spots have been a persistent challenge, contributing to fluctuations in the national growth rate," said Dr. Theresa Tam.

Haldimand and Norfolk is being held back too but because of ongoing outbreaks, including at asparagus farm Scotlynn Group in Vittoria where 164 people have tested positive.

Haldimand (and) Norfolk will also remain in stage one until we are confident the impacts of an outbreak are contained and don't extend into the broader community," said Health Minister Christine Elliott.

Two restrictions are easing up provincewide, including in Hamilton, Halton and Haldimand and Norfolk.

Up to 10 people will be permitted to gather starting June 12, double the current five. However, physical distancing is still required.

We have talked about the concept of bubbling - putting people together without being concerned with physical distancing," said Elliott. It's something we're still discussing but not something (chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams) feels we're ready to do in Ontario just yet."

Places of worship are also allowed to open Friday, but at 30 per cent of the building's capacity.

I know for so many of us the restrictions around places of worship have been extremely hard," said Ford. During these uncertain times our faith has never been more important."

But otherwise the difference is stark for excluded communities, as stage two involves a long list of reopenings including: haircuts, spas, malls, restaurant and bar patios, libraries, community centres, galleries, museums, day camps, training for outdoor sports teams, splash pads and pools, beaches, tours such as bike, walking and bus, wedding sites and drive-in or drive-thru venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and art installations.

The good news is stage two will allow people to resume many parts of their daily life," said Ford. For the regions that must wait a little longer, I ask you please remain patient, we will get there soon."

However, there are zero travel restrictions in Ontario so there is nothing stopping area residents from going to Brantford, Cambridge or cottage country to dine out or get a hair cut.

They can travel," said Ford.

Elliott added, We do expect people will be moving around more now because some of the barriers have been lifted."

The other Golden Horseshoe and border towns excluded from stage two reopening are Niagara, Toronto, Peel, Durham, York, Windsor Essex and Lambton County.

Elliott says the status of regions stuck in stage one will be reviewed every Monday with an eye to opening the following Friday.

When we have a province larger than Texas and California, we have to differentiate," said Ford. We realize this isn't fair to punish people in rural areas because of big urban centres."

Hamilton had eight new cases Monday to bring the total to 742 confirmed and probable. Roughly 95 people have tested positive in just under two weeks.

Halton's cases have risen to 745 confirmed and probable - a jump of around 46 cases in the same time frame. Burlington alone had a modest increase to 142 from about 136.

Haldimand and Norfolk has had a significant surge to 395 from 216 mostly because of the farm outbreak.

Different regions of Ontario have experienced COVID-19 differently," said Elliott. In response, we are taking a regional approach that recognizes in many areas of the province it is safe to ease restrictions and reopen more businesses. Indeed, in some areas there have been fewer or no new cases of this virus in recent days and weeks."

However, it's not just the numbers but also the ongoing spread in the community

The trouble spots where COVID-19 transmission is continuing include a number of outbreaks, but more concerning still are areas with community spread of the virus," said Tam. Although outbreaks are problematic ... community transmission, on the other hand, can be harder to manage."

In the last 10 days, 45 per cent of infections have been community acquired in Hamilton and no new cases have been related to travel.

Considering 27 per cent of Hamilton's overall cases are community acquired, it shows that more people are getting infected in the community now than at other times during the pandemic.

These trouble spots remind us we've got to continue our path down the curve with extreme care," said Tam.

A key measure of Ontario's reopening framework is a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases that cannot be traced back to a source. In the last 10 days, only 48 per cent of Hamilton's cases could be traced back to a contact.

All of this is difficult and frustrating and longer than we hoped it would be in many ways," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But at the same time, we know the cost of having to return into lock down because of a massive resurgence is not one that anyone wants to bear which is why we are being very cautious."

Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com