Ontario Slowly Begins Easing Restrictions After Omicron Wave

By: Laura Steiner

The Ontario government has unveiled its plan for easing restrictions after the latest wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron wave.

“The evidence tells us that the measures we put in place to blunt transmission of Omicron are working,” Ford said in a press conference.  The plan will be reopening January 31, 2022, and will have 21 days between each step.

January 31 2022:

Increase of social gathering limits to 10 people indoors, and 25 outdoors

Increase, or maintain capacity to 50% in:

• Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
• Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies)
• Shopping malls;
• Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms;
• Cinemas;
• Meeting and event spaces;
• Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks;
• Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions; and
• Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
• Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.

• Allowing spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50 per cent seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.

Enhanced Proof of vaccination will continue to be required in existing settings

February 21, 2022:

• Social gathering limits increase to 25 indoors, and 100 people outdoors
• The removal of capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required.  This includes restaurants, indoor sports and recreation facilities, cinemas
• Increase capacity limits at sporting events/ concert venues and theatres to 50%
• Capacity limits remain in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required to the number of people who can maintain a physical distance of 2 metres or more
• Indoor religious services/ceremonies/rites are limited to how many people can maintain a distance of 2 metres or more
• Capacity limits will increase to 25% in remaining high-risk settings including nightclubs, wedding receptions, spaces where there is dancing as well as bathhouses and sex clubs.  Enhanced proof of vaccination requirements will remain

March 14, 2022:

• Remaining capacity limits will be lifted on public indoor events.  Enhanced proof of vaccination will be maintained in existing venues along with other measures
• Lifting remaining capacity limits for religious services, ceremonies and rites
• Increased capacity for indoor social gatherings to 50 people, outdoor limits will be entirely lifted.

The province will offer affected businesses a $10,000 COVID-19 Small Business Relief grant.  The money will be available starting next month.  This follows the introduction of $7.5 billion program where businesses affected by capacity limits and closures would be eligible for a six-month interest and penalty free to help with energy costs.

“The months ahead will require continued vigilance, as we don’t want to cause any further disruption to people’s everyday lives.  We must continue to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities by following the measures in place and by vaccinating those who have not yet received their doses,” Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said.

Medical Officers of Health at the Regional level will be able to issue recommendations under the Reopening Ontario Act.  New orders may issued under section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotions Act.  Municipalities are able to issue bylaws to target transmissions in the community.

Halton Region recorded an increase of 413 new cases of COVID-19 today, with 122 coming from Milton.  Halton area hospitals remain over capacity at 111% of their Acute care beds occupied with 121 cases of COVID-19, and 89% of the ICU Beds occupied with 22 cases.