It’s official! The provincial government has just announced that the province will move into Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen two days earlier than expected.
This announcement is due to the province surpassing the vaccine threshold targets needed. On the recommendation by the Chief Medical Officer of Health as of Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. Step Two will begin.
“Because of the tireless work of our health care heroes, and the record-setting success of our vaccine rollout, we are able to move into Step Two ahead of schedule on June 30 with the support of our public health experts,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We are proceeding safely with the re-opening of our province and will continue to work around the clock until the job is done.”
The requirements to move into Step Two were Ontario needed to have vaccinated 70 per cent of adults with one dose and 20 per cent with two doses for at least two weeks, to ensure a strong level of protection against COVID-19.
As of June 23, 2021, over 76 per cent of the population in Ontario ages 18 and over have received one dose of the vaccine and 29 percent have received their second dose. More than 13.3 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered across the province.
“Due to a continued improvement in key indicators, Ontario is ready to enter Step Two of our Roadmap, allowing us to safely and gradually ease public health measures while continuing to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Thank you to the Ontarians who rolled up their sleeves to help us reach this exciting milestone. Every dose administered brings us one step closer to the things we’ve missed, so please sign up to receive the vaccine when it’s your turn.”
Step Two of the Roadmap focuses on the continuation of more outdoor activities and limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. Things residents can expect in Step Two but is not limited to:
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Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
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Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 5 people;
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Essential and other select retail permitted at 50 per cent capacity;
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Non-essential retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
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Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times, and at 25 per cent capacity and other restrictions;
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Outdoor dining with up to 6 people per table, with exceptions for larger households and other restrictions;
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Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 25 per cent capacity of the particular room;
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Outdoor fitness classes limited to the number of people who can maintain 3 metres of physical distance;
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Outdoor sports without contact or modified to avoid contact, with no specified limit on number of people or teams participating, with restrictions;
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Overnight camps for children operating in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health;
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Outdoor sport facilities with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
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Outdoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
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Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
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Outdoor fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals, permitted at 25 per cent capacity and with other restrictions.
Even though the province has surpassed numbers to already move into Step Three of the Roadmap, the province will be in Step Two for approximately 21 days to allow the vaccines to reach their full effectiveness and to evaluate any impacts of moving into Step Two on key public health and health care indicators. When it's been determined to be safe, the province will promptly move into Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen.