Full list of what's reopening in Ontario and when as COVID-19 restrictions gradually lift
The Ontario government has announced it will slowly ease public health measures that have been in place to curb the spread of the highly-contagious Omicron variant.
Premier Doug Ford said during a news conference on Thursday that the province’s approach to winding back on restrictions, which took effect on Jan. 5, will be “cautious and gradual.”
The province detailed the reopening will take place over the course of three months with 21 days between each of the three stages.
CTV News Toronto has compiled a list of what’s reopening, at what capacity and when.
Jan. 31
- Social gatherings will be increased to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
- Sporting events, concert venues and theatres will be able to operate at 50 per cent seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities will be able to operate with 50 per cent capacity indoors.
- Retailers, including grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as shopping malls, can operate with 50 per cent capacity indoors.
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms, can operate with 50 per cent capacity indoors.
- Movie theatres, meeting rooms and event spaces can operate with 50 per cent capacity indoors.
- Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks, can operate with 50 per cent capacity indoors.
- Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions, as well as casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments can open at 50 per cent capacity indoors.
- Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies can take place at 50 per cent capacity.
- The province said enhanced proof of vaccination, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.
Feb. 21
- Social gathering limits will increase to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
- Capacity limits will be lifted in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required.
- Spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues, and theatres will increase to 50 per cent capacity.
- Capacity is limited in most remaining indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance.
- Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies are limited to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required.
- Indoor capacity limits will be increased to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs.
- Enhanced proof of vaccination, and other requirements would continue to apply in existing settings.
March 14
- Social gathering limits will be increased to 50 people indoors with no limits for outdoor gatherings.
- Capacity limits will be lifted in all indoor public settings. Proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing settings in addition to other regular measures.
- Remaining capacity limits on religious services, rites, or ceremonies will be lifted.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.