Ontario to lift vaccine passport in March, next phase of COVID-19 reopening to begin early
Ontario will be moving to the next step of its COVID-19 reopening plan on Thursday, four days ahead of schedule, and will lift proof of vaccination requirements at the beginning of 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.
“Given how well Ontario has done in the Omicron wave we are able to fast track our reopening plan,” Ford said in a statement.
“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.”
As of Feb. 17, social gathering limits will increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Capacity limits will be lifted at most indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required. This includes restaurants, meeting and event spaces, gaming establishments and “non-spectator areas” of gyms and cinemas.
Seating capacity at sport and concert venues, as well as movie theatres, will be 50 per cent.
In higher-risk settings such as nightclubs, restaurants with dancing, bathhouses and sex clubs, indoor capacity is 25 per cent. Proof of vaccination is required.
For indoor religious services that require proof of vaccination, capacity limits have been lifted. If proof of vaccination is not required, the facility may have as many people as can fit with physical distancing.
For grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail stores, capacity limits will be capped at “the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.”
The province was originally scheduled to move to this phase of reopening on Feb. 21.
Ford also announced on Monday the province's proof-of-vaccination requirements will be lifted on March 1 at all non-essential businesses.
At this time, capacity limits will also be lifted at all indoor establishments.
However, officials said this will only happen "if public health and health system indicators continue to improve."
“We're able to take this step now because of each and every one of you, because of our nurses, our doctors, hospital workers, because of every single person who volunteered in a vaccine clinic and every single person who played a part in this fight,” Ford said. “And let me be very clear, we're moving in this direction because it's safe to do so.”
Vaccine requirements in industries such as long-term care and health care will remain in place for now, the premier added.
Ford stressed that speeding up the reopening schedule was made “despite” the anti-vaccine mandate protests taking place across the province and not because of any political pressure to lift COVID-19 measures.
On Friday, the premier declared a state of emergency to protect Ontario’s borders and issue severe fines to convoy protesters occupying Ottawa and Windsor.
The protests in Ottawa have reached its third week while the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor finally reopened Monday following a week-long demonstration that disrupted traffic and prevented trade.
The protesters have been calling for an end to all COVID-19 measures, including vaccination mandates.
On Monday, the premier said the plan to speed up reopening was “in place long before the protests.”
“We're going to make sure that we get back to normal as quickly as possible. Again, despite the occupations, we're going to continue focusing on making sure that we have a safe environment for companies to do business and trade here in Ontario.”
With about 92 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and over with at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and the number of patients in hospital declining, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore added the province no longer needs proof of vaccination.
“It served its purpose,” Moore said. “I thank all the businesses and communities that have used it, as well as all the citizens and uploading their QR codes and their passports. But in our estimation, given where we are in the epidemic as of March 1, it will no longer be necessary.”
Masking requirements will remain in place, officials said, and businesses may choose to continue to require vaccine certificates if they wish.
The premier also announced Monday that youth between the ages of 12 and 17 will be eligible for their booster doses as of 8 a.m. on Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10,000 Zantac lawsuits in U.S.: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.