Ontario meets vaccine targets to enter Step 3 weeks ahead of schedule

TORONTO -

Ontario has met the vaccination thresholds required to enter the third and final step of the economic reopening weeks ahead of schedule.

The provincial government’s "roadmap to reopen" highlighted vaccination rates as the key benchmark to open additional portions of the economy, in conjunction with declining hospitalizations, ICU occupancy and positivity rates – targets that been exceeded in recent days.

In order to initiate Step 3, the province would need 70 to 80 per cent of the adult population vaccinated with a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a quarter of the adult population would require two doses.

Currently, 76 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and above have received their primary dose, while 25 per cent of the adult population has been fully vaccinated.

The province, however, is still in the first step of the reopening plan and top cabinet ministers are offering vague suggestions about whether the next steps will be sped up.

“All considerations [are] under active discussion,” said Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy on Tuesday when asked whether the cabinet is looking at fast tracking the reopening.

The province has said it will wait at least 21 days before moving into the next phase of reopening in order to analyze trends and determine the impact of each step on hospitalizations and case counts.

Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said the province is actively monitoring the pandemic’s trends to allow for a safe reopening and cabinet ministers are having “ongoing daily conversations” with public health officials about those targets.

“I couldn’t be happier if we could open sooner, but I also want to do it safety and we’re doing that under the advice and guidance of the Chief Medical Officer of Health,” Jones said.

“As soon as we’re able to share with businesses and the people of Ontario, we will do that.”

The second step, which would allow for personal care services, live music events, outdoor amusement parks and small indoor gatherings, is slated to begin on July 2.

The roadmap document states the province would need to wait another three weeks before moving to Step 3, when indoor activities including dining, sports, casinos, events and gatherings would be allowed.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said Tuesday the high vaccination rates could make it "much easier" for the province to look at a truncated timeline for the economic reopening.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford answers questions as Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams, left, listen in during a news conference at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto on Monday March 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

"I think there is the opportunity for those [timelines] to be shortened,” Tory said. "I want the city opened up again as soon it possibly can be safely done."

Toronto infectious diseases expert Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti also said Tuesday that Ontario should "absolutely" speed up the reopening timeline given the current vaccine numbers.

"(COVID-19) is not going to be able to explode like it did back when we had no vaccine, or very little vaccine, coverage," Chakrabarti said.

"I really think we need to start moving on. We should accelerate ... I think we have the ability at this point to open up and do so safely."