There has been some major changes in the strategy for re-opening the Province of Ontario.
Premier Doug Ford has announced on Monday, the dates for the lifting of emergency measures.
With key indicators showing that Ontario is doing well in the battle against Omicron, Premier Ford announced the next step of reopening will take place on February 17th.
Below is a complete breakdown of the new timeline.
Effective February, 17th:
-Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
-Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
-Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
-Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
-Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
Cinemas
-Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
-Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
-Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
-Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
-Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
-Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs
-Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.
-Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, retail and shopping malls, will be maintained at, or increased to, the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.
In addition, as of 8:00 a.m. on Friday, February 18th, Ontario is expanding booster dose eligibility to youth aged 12 to 17. To book an appointment online, individuals must be 12 years old at the time of appointment.
Effective March 1st:
Ontario intends to take additional steps to ease public health measures if public health and health system indicators continue to improve. This includes lifting capacity limits in all remaining indoor public settings.
Ontario will also lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings at this time. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination.
Masking requirements will remain in place at this time, with a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date.
