Vaccination rollout provides shot in the arm for local businesses

REGIONAL — With COVID-19 vaccinations rolling out all across the region, the Ontario Roadmap to Reopening has reached Step 1, with Step 2 within reach in a little over two week’s time.

Last Friday, Step 1 arrived three days earlier than expected, ushering in open patios and allowing retailers who had been deemed non-essential to open their doors to limited patrons.

With new case counts dropping and active case counts doing the same, officials hope that the vaccine rollout will bring things closer to normal this summer.

In Windsor-Essex, just over 60 per cent of the total population has received at least one dose, with 17.8 per cent of the total population fully vaccinated as of Monday. Over 72 per cent of residents over the age of 12 years have had at least one dose of vaccination in Windsor-Essex.

In Chatham-Kent, over 65 per cent of residents over 12 have had at least one dose, with over 11,000 people having been fully vaccinated.

Step 1 has allowed patio dining for up to four people, non-essential retail with a 15 per cent capacity and outdoor social gatherings of up to 10 people.

Step 2 will allow up to 25 people outdoors, increase patio dining to six people and will allow sports leagues to resume play with restrictions. It will also allow the reopening of salons. Based on the current situation, Ontario is expected to enter Step 2 around July 3.

The information changes frequently, so please visit ontario.ca for any updates.

For up-to-date information on vaccinations, please visit wechu.org or ckphu.com.