Ontario has accelerated its reopening plans, announcing plans to lift capacity limits on indoor settings as well as remove proof of vaccination mandates.
The province has announced that, starting Thursday (February 17), capacity limits will be lifted for certain indoor settings where proof of vaccination is required. Crucially for the entertainment industry, this includes movie theatres and bars and restaurants without dancing facilities. Seated concert venues can operate at 50 percent capacity, and "higher-risk settings" like nightclubs reopen at 25 percent capacity. (This is four days earlier than the previously planned reopening on February 21.)
Starting March 1, all capacity limits will be lifted in indoor public settings. At this time, proof-of-vaccination requirements will also be lifted (although businesses can continue to require them, if they choose). According to the province, this step will only take place "if public health and health system indicators continue to improve."
Masking requirements will remain in place for the time being.
See the full reopening plan here.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said in a statement, "Thanks to the efforts of Ontarians to help blunt the transmission of Omicron, our health care indicators suggest a general improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the province. We are now in a position to lift more public health measures, but it is important to stay vigilant, as we don't want to cause any further disruption to people's everyday lives. We must continue to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities by following the measures in place and by vaccinating those who have not yet received their doses."
The province has announced that, starting Thursday (February 17), capacity limits will be lifted for certain indoor settings where proof of vaccination is required. Crucially for the entertainment industry, this includes movie theatres and bars and restaurants without dancing facilities. Seated concert venues can operate at 50 percent capacity, and "higher-risk settings" like nightclubs reopen at 25 percent capacity. (This is four days earlier than the previously planned reopening on February 21.)
Starting March 1, all capacity limits will be lifted in indoor public settings. At this time, proof-of-vaccination requirements will also be lifted (although businesses can continue to require them, if they choose). According to the province, this step will only take place "if public health and health system indicators continue to improve."
Masking requirements will remain in place for the time being.
See the full reopening plan here.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said in a statement, "Thanks to the efforts of Ontarians to help blunt the transmission of Omicron, our health care indicators suggest a general improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the province. We are now in a position to lift more public health measures, but it is important to stay vigilant, as we don't want to cause any further disruption to people's everyday lives. We must continue to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities by following the measures in place and by vaccinating those who have not yet received their doses."
