Ontario announces three-step plan to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions


Ontario introduced it should enable indoor eating and gymnasiums to reopen and can improve gathering limits on Jan. 31 as a part of a three-step plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions within the province.


"We will be assured that the worst is behind us as we glance to cautiously ease public well being measures," Premier Doug Ford mentioned Thursday. "We are actually able to cautiously and step by step ease public well being measures."


Beginning Jan. 31, social gathering limits will improve to 10 individuals indoors and 25 individuals outdoor, the province mentioned. 


Indoor eating, gyms, retailers, buying malls, and cinemas can reopen at 50 per cent capability. 


Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, casinos, bingo halls and different gaming institutions can even reopen. 


The federal government can even enable spectators at sporting occasions, live performance venues and theatres at 50 per cent seated capability or 500 individuals, whichever is much less.


Every step of reopening will likely be separated by 21 days to ensure that the province to watch public well being tendencies.


"We need to do all the pieces humanly potential to keep away from having to go backwards," Ford mentioned. "If meaning pausing between steps for a number of further days, we can't hesitate to take action."


On Feb. 21, Ontario will improve indoor social gathering limits to 25 individuals indoors and 100 individuals out of doors.


Presently, the province can even take away capability limits in indoor public settings the place proof of vaccination is required, together with eating places, indoor sports activities and leisure services, and cinemas.


Indoor capability limits of 25 per cent will likely be put in place for higher-risk settings the place proof of vaccination is required, together with nightclubs, wedding ceremony receptions in occasion areas the place there's dancing, in addition to bathhouses and intercourse golf equipment.


Different settings that select to opt-in to proof of vaccination necessities can even be allowed to carry capability limits.


Spectator capability at sporting occasions, live performance venues, and theatres will likely be 50 per cent capability on Feb. 21.


Indoor public settings the place proof of vaccination just isn't required will likely be restricted to the variety of individuals that may keep two metres of bodily distance.


On March 14, Ontario will carry all capability limits in indoor public settings, however proof of vaccination will nonetheless be in impact. 


Social gathering limits will improve to 50 individuals indoors on the time, with no limits for out of doors gatherings. Remaining capability limits on non secular providers, rites, or ceremonies can even be lifted right now. 


A date for lifting Ontario's proof of vaccination system and masks mandate was not introduced.


"There are some constructive indicators that we could also be reaching the height of the Omicron wave in Ontario," Well being Minister Christine Elliott mentioned. "Nonetheless, we nonetheless want to stay humble and cautious."


Ford mentioned the province just isn't at the moment contemplating updating its proof of vaccination requirement from two doses to 3.


Chief Medical Officer of Well being Dr. Kieran Moore mentioned the choice to start out reopening the economic system was made as a result of there are constructive indicators that COVID-19 transmission is beginning to ease.


"The share of exams which might be constructive is on the decline at 15 per cent, so that's one indicator we're following very intently, as properly the flexibility to look after Ontarians within the intensive care unit setting in addition to within the hospital," he mentioned.


Moore didn't give a date for when non-urgent surgical procedures, which was paused earlier this month, will likely be allowed to renew.

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