Ontario is moving into the first step of its three-stage reopening plan today after approving new regulations and public health measures last week.
Indoor social gathering limits have increased from five people to 10, and restaurants, bars, retailers, museums, religious services, movie theatres, meeting rooms and event spaces are now able to operate at 50 per cent capacity. Outdoor limits are set at 25 people.
Ontario will now allow food and drink services at indoor sporting events, concerts, theatres and bingo halls, but masks will still be required when residents are not eating or drinking.
The government has also removed the legal requirement to work from home except where necessary, but Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, strongly recommends that those able to work from home continue to do so.
Businesses will no longer need to collect patron information for contact tracing, but venues are still being asked to screen patrons prior to entry.
“This is really a plan to reopen and it’s a plan to stay open,” said Kenora-Rainy River MPP and Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Greg Rickford.
“We’re seeing numbers that tell us that we’re very close to the other side of this. I know that it can’t come soon enough. We want kids in school and in recreational sports. We want restaurants and small businesses to open. We’ve been cautious, and we’ve been rewarded for that,” adds Rickford.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care also says that some paused surgeries and operations will resume this week, including cancer screenings, diagnostic services, pediatrics and more.
“There are some positive signs that we may be reaching the peak of the Omicron wave in Ontario,” said Health Minister and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott. “However, we still need to remain humble and cautious.”
The government plans to move into stage two of its reopening plan and lift further restrictions on February 21, if public health trends improve. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the government may be forced to pause for a few days between steps, however.
“Eventually, the world will move forward,” said Ford. “We’re going to get through this. Hopefully, we’re going to get through it sooner than later. There’s no one that wants to get through this more than I do. I despise shutting things down. My heart breaks. But, we’ll come back with a vengeance.”
When restrictions do loosen, indoor limits are set to move to 25 people, while outdoor limits grow to 100. Ontario may also look at removing capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including restaurants, theatres and recreational facilities.
“In the face of Omicron, I absolutely think we have to start to understand we have to learn to live with this virus and we’ve let our lives be controlled for the last two years in a significant amount of fear, and now we’re going to have to change some of that thinking,” said Dr. Moore, in a news conference on January 27.
Step three of the plan is set to take effect by March 14, where Ontario will remove all capacity limits in indoor settings, but proof of vaccination will still be in effect. Indoor limits will move to 50 people, with no limits outdoors. Capacity limits on religious services would also be lifted.
Ontario has not provided any timeline for removing masks or the proof of vaccination system.