Province unveils road map to reopening

By Mark Ribble

TORONTO — On Thursday, May 20, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that they have come up with a road map for reopening the province.

With hospitalizations and new case counts on the decline and vaccinations on the rise, the government is taking a cautious, but optimistic approach to getting to the new normal.

Beginning this past Saturday, the government is now allowing up to five people to gather outdoors, while giving the green light to golf courses, sports fields and other outdoor venues to open up.

At the centre of the opening, will be the vaccination rates. Currently Ontario has vaccinated just over 50 percent of adults with at least one dose.

The three-step reopening plan announced last Thursday will require Ontarians to get to a 60 percent vaccinated rate to begin the process.

Step 1 — with at least 60 per cent of Ontarians vaccinated with one dose, allows outdoor dining, outdoor gathering limits at ten people, and non-essential retail up to 15 per cent capacity. This is expected to happen by about June 14.

The Premier has said each step in the process will be in effect for a minimum of 21 days.

Permit with restrictions

Outdoors first with limited, well-managed crowding and permitting restricted retail

• Larger outdoor gatherings for up to 10 people

• Outdoor dining for up to 4 people per table

• Essential retail capacity at 25%

• Non-essential retail at 15%

• Outdoor religious services, rites and ceremonies with capacity limited to permit physical distancing of 2 metres

• Outdoor sports, fitness and personal training up to 10 people

• Day camps

• Campsites and campgrounds

• Ontario Parks

• Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways

• Outdoor pools, splashpads, and wading pools

Minimum 21 days

Step 2 — with at least 70 per cent of Ontarians vaccinated with one dose (or 20 per cent fully vaccinated), will allow an expansion of outdoor activities, outdoor gatherings up to 25 people, resumption of outdoor sports leagues, overnight camps and personal care services. In addition to these, religious rites, ceremonies or gatherings can be at 15 per cent capacity. It’s expected that the date of Step 2 will be at least July 6.

Permit with restrictions

Open indoors with small numbers and face coverings and expand outdoors

• Small outdoor gatherings for up to 5 people

• Outdoor dining for up to 6 people per table

• Essential retail at 50% capacity

• Non-essential retail capacity at 25%

• Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times

• Outdoor meeting and event spaces

• Outdoor amusement and water parks

• Outdoor boat tour operators

• Outdoor county fairs and rural exhibitions

• Outdoor sports leagues and events

• Outdoor cinemas, performing arts, live music events and attractions

Minimum 21 days

Step 3 — with between 70 and 80 per cent of Ontarians vaccinated with one dose (or 25 percent fully vaccinated), will allow indoor sports and recreational fitness, indoor dining, museums, art galleries, libraries, casinos and bingo halls (with capacity limits). This threshold isn’t expected to be reached until around the end of July.

Permit with restrictions

Expand indoors where face coverings can’t always be worn

• Indoor dining

• Essential and non-essential retail open with limited capacity

• Larger indoor religious services, rites, and ceremony gatherings

• Indoor meeting and event spaces

• Indoor sports and recreational facilities

• Indoor seated events

• Indoor attractions and cultural amenities

• Casino and bingo halls

• Other outdoor activities from Step 2 permitted to operate indoors

As the summer of 2021 progresses, it is expected that Ontario will slowly get out from under the major restrictions, but you should expect to have to wear a mask for indoor shopping and dining for some time yet.

Full details of the road map for reopening are available at www.ontario.ca.