Here's what's reopening and when in Ontario as province speeds up reopening

On Monday, the Ontario government announced it will be moving to the next step of its COVID-19 reopening plan Thursday, four days ahead of schedule.

The province also said it will lift proof of vaccination requirements beginning March 1.

• Ontario moving to next phase of reopening plan on Feb. 17, to lift vaccine passport in March

Speaking at a news conference Monday morning, Premier Doug Ford said the decisions were made based on recommendations from the province’s chief medical officer of health.

“This is great news and a sign of just how far we've come together in our fight against the virus. While we aren’t out of the woods just yet we are moving in the right direction,” the premier said in a statement issued Monday.

Here’s a full list of what’s reopening and when in Ontario:

February 17

• Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
• Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
• Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
• Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
• Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
• Cinemas
• Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
• Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
• Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
• Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
• Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
• Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs
• Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.

March 1

• Lifting capacity limits in all remaining indoor public settings
• Lifting proof of vaccination requirements for all settings at this time. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination.
• Masking requirements will remain in place at this time, with a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date.

With files from Katherine DeClerq.