Ontario extends pause on reopening plan indefinitely as COVID-19 situation worsens
Ontario is extending its pause indefinitely on moving to the next step of the reopening plan as COVID-19 cases continue to increase.
On Nov. 15, capacity limits were supposed to be lifted in remaining high-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required.
That was delayed at least 28 days on Nov. 10 due to an increase in cases.
On Tuesday, the government announced the pause would continue in order to monitor trends in public health and learn more about the Omicron variant.
No date has been given for when lifting these restrictions will be reassessed.
These higher-risk settings include:
- Food or drink establishments with dance facilities such as night clubs and wedding receptions in meeting/event spaces where there is dancing
- Strip clubs
- Sex clubs and bathhouses
The restrictions currently in place limit nightclubs and bathhouses to 25 per cent capacity or 250 patrons, whichever is less.
At strip clubs, there is no set capacity limit, but establishments must ensure there is physical distancing of at least two metres between groups.
No other changes to the reopening plan have been made at this time.
Health officials have warned for weeks that cases would increase in the winter months as more people gather indoors.
New modelling data released Tuesday morning suggests that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Ontario will continue to rise substantially, even without the Omicron variant.
The data shows that even without spread from the new Omicron variant, intensive care unit occupancy will likely grow to 250-400 beds in January, putting hospitals under strain again.
They also noted that the spread of the Omicron variant will likely drive COVID-19 cases above their current projections.
Ontario's seven-day average of daily new cases is up to 940, a level not seen since the decline of the third wave in early June.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Families pay tribute to Texas school shooting victims
Families are sharing photos and stories of their loved ones, who lost their lives in a mass shooting in Texas that killed at least 19 children and two adults on Tuesday afternoon.
Monkeypox in Canada: PHAC now confirms 15 cases countrywide
With Quebec confirming an additional 10 cases of monkeypox identified in the province, the Public Health Agency of Canada says they are monitoring a total of 15 cases across the country.
'My heart breaks': Trudeau reacts to Texas elementary school shooting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his 'heart breaks' for those impacted by the 'horrific' shooting at an elementary school in Texas that killed 21 people on Tuesday.
Clean up, power restoration efforts underway after destructive Ontario storm
Crews are working to restore power to more than 150,000 Ontario customers who are still without hydro after a deadly storm swept through the province on Saturday.
Language law Bill 96 adopted, promising sweeping changes for Quebec
Bill 96, the provincial government's controversial legislation aimed at protecting the French language in Quebec, has been adopted in the National Assembly.
Depp retakes witness stand, calls Heard's allegations insane
Johnny Depp called his ex-wife's accusations of sexual and physical abuse 'insane' Wednesday as he returned to the witness stand in his libel suit against Amber Heard.
U.K. PM Boris Johnson, other leaders faulted for lockdown parties
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other senior officials bear responsibility for a culture of rule-breaking that resulted in several parties that breached the U.K.'s COVID-19 lockdown rules, a report into the events said Wednesday.
Warriors coach Kerr calls for gun control after Texas school shooting
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr refused to talk about basketball at a pre-game news conference on Tuesday and instead called for stricter gun control after the killing of at least 18 children and an adult in a Texas school shooting.
Society 'may not survive' Putin's war, says billionaire George Soros
Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have marked the start of "a third world war," and Russian President Vladimir Putin must be defeated "as soon as possible" if the world wants to preserve civilization, said billionaire and philanthropist George Soros.
Montreal
-
Feds ready to get involved in Quebec's Bill 21, are closely watching Bill 96
Federal Justice Minister David Lametti says the federal government is prepared to get involved in two controversial Quebec bills, including the language law passed Tuesday, especially if the bills reach the Supreme Court.
-
Language law Bill 96 adopted, promising sweeping changes for Quebec
Bill 96, the provincial government's controversial legislation aimed at protecting the French language in Quebec, has been adopted in the National Assembly.
-
Montreal drug trafficking network could produce up to 1 million pills per week: police
Montreal police says it is working to dismantle a "major amphetamine trafficking and production network."
London
-
Gravel truck and small SUV collide in London, Ont.
One person has been taken to hospital with minor injuries after a small SUV and gravel truck collided head-on Wednesday morning.
-
Weapons investigation in downtown London, Ont.
London police are investigating after a gun was fired in the city early Monday morning.
-
Case against driver in deadly Riverside Drive crash returns to court in July
The case against the driver in a deadly crash that struck a group of girls on Riverside Drive in London, Ont. last fall returns to court this summer.
Kitchener
-
Two seriously injured, one airlifted after crash in Baden, Ont.
Two people have been seriously injured following a collision in Baden, Ont., with one person needing to be airlifted to a hospital outside the region.
-
Two overnight shootings in Kitchener connected: police
Waterloo regional police say evidence of gunfire found in McLennan Park in Kitchener is connected to another shooting incident in the nearby area of Windflower Drive and Windflower Crescent.
-
How to dispose of tree debris left by Saturday’s storm
As cleanup efforts, the Region of Waterloo is reminding residents to dispose of tree debris in their regularly scheduled yard waste collection. They've also issued a few guidelines.
Northern Ontario
-
One person dead following fire in Cochrane
Ontario Provincial Police said Wednesday the remains of one person was discovered following a fire May 22.
-
Driver accused of impaired crashes into cemetery, landing on top of headstone
An Owen Sound man faces impaired driving charges after allegedly losing control of his vehicle and going through a local cemetery.
-
Ontario police release wild video showing stunt driver going 200 km/h on highway shoulder
Police have released new video of a recent incident in which a vehicle was caught doing doughnuts and speeding along the shoulder of busy Ontario roadways.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa storm winds reached 190 km/h: researchers
Winds in the destructive storm that hit Ottawa and the region on Saturday reached 190 kilometres per hour in some areas, researchers say.
-
'My heart breaks': Trudeau reacts to Texas elementary school shooting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his 'heart breaks' for those impacted by the 'horrific' shooting at an elementary school in Texas that killed 21 people on Tuesday.
-
Province to pick up the tab for Ottawa storm cleanup
Ottawa mayor Jim Watson says Premier Doug Ford has assured him the province will pay for cleaning up the national capital after Saturday’s powerful, deadly storm.
Windsor
-
Auto parts makers launch student scholarships to lure future EV workers
The Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA) is launching a bursary program aimed at post-secondary students pursuing a future in Canada’s future automotive industry.
-
What’s happening with the peace fountain? Windsor council looking at three options
Windsor city council has to make some decisions regarding a popular monument.
-
NDP renews calls for removal of Liberal candidate in Chatham-Kent-Leamington
The outgoing NDP MP for Essex is now calling for the removal of Audrey Festeryga.
Barrie
-
Wrong-way Highway 11 driver acquitted in 2018 serious head-on crash
An Orillia man responsible for causing a head-on collision when he drove the wrong way on Highway 11 four years ago, sending a woman to the hospital with life-altering injuries, has been acquitted.
-
Driver accused of impaired crashes into cemetery, landing on top of headstone
An Owen Sound man faces impaired driving charges after allegedly losing control of his vehicle and going through a local cemetery.
-
New Tecumseth two-vehicle collision sends one person to hospital
Parts of Fifth Line in the Town of New Tecumseth were blocked off due to a Wednesday morning collision.
Atlantic
-
Families of N.S. shooting victims, law firm boycott inquiry proceedings in protest
As the inquiry into Nova Scotia’s mass shooting moves its public proceedings to Truro, many of the family members affected by the tragedy and their lawyers are boycotting the proceedings over the next week.
-
Young Halifax residents say they are being priced out of the city they love
A study from RBC and Canadian think tank Youthful Cities found that Halifax is the least affordable city for young people aged 15 to 29 compared to 26 other major Canadian cities.
-
Halifax police respond to weapons call in Spryfield, say there is no threat to public
There is a heavy police presence in the Spryfield area of Halifax, where police are investigating a weapons complaint.
Calgary
-
Calgary mayor condemns gun violence, radical partisanship post-Texas school shooting tragedy
The mayor of Calgary says the increase in local gun violence and hate-based crimes needs to be addressed and it's past time the public demand better of its elected officials.
-
Calgary arena deal update
The City of Calgary event centre committee is meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss what, if any, movement has been made toward inking a deal to replace the aging Saddledome.
-
'My heart breaks': Trudeau reacts to Texas elementary school shooting
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his 'heart breaks' for those impacted by the 'horrific' shooting at an elementary school in Texas that killed 21 people on Tuesday.
Winnipeg
-
Winnipeg woman charged following year-long homicide investigation: police
A 31-year-old Winnipeg woman has been charged in connection with a May 2021 homicide.
-
Manitoba RCMP investigating after missing man found dead in water near culvert
Officers with the Manitoba RCMP are investigating after a 75-year-old man was found dead in the water near a culvert.
-
Families pay tribute to Texas school shooting victims
Families are sharing photos and stories of their loved ones, who lost their lives in a mass shooting in Texas that killed at least 19 children and two adults on Tuesday afternoon.
Vancouver
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING | Police incident in Maple Ridge: Unconfirmed reports of shooting
Mounties are responding to an incident in Maple Ridge, B.C., and there are unconfirmed reports that it may be a shooting.
-
B.C. strata ordered to pay $35,000, build tram for senior who can't climb 102 stairs from his home
B.C.'s Human Rights Tribunal has ordered a strata to pay a senior thousands of dollars and build a tram to accommodate the man who can't climb the 102 stairs leading from his home.
-
Trudeau cancels appearance at Liberal Party fundraiser in B.C. amid protest
The prime minister was scheduled to attend a fundraiser during a trip to British Columbia this week, but cancelled the appearance due to protesters.
Edmonton
-
LIVE NOW
LIVE NOW | Edmonton Folk Music Festival organizers to reveal full 2022 roster
What's known: The War on Drugs, Lord Huron, Allison Russell, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.
-
Nugent-Hopkins scores twice, Oilers survive Smith's blunder to grab 3-1 series lead
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his second goal of the night with 3:27 left in regulation as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Calgary Flames 5-3 on Tuesday to take a 3-1 lead in the teams' second-round playoff series.
-
One of two Alberta men accused of killing hunters to take witness stand
A man accused of killing two Métis hunters on a rural Alberta road is scheduled to testify today.