Covid update: New restrictions by provinces and territories across Canada

Covid update:

New restrictions by provinces and territories across Canada

The fast spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant has many Canadians wondering if they need to alter their plans when visiting family during the holiday season, partying or hosting get togethers.

The federal government has already advised against international travel, while provinces and territories across the country are acting swiftly to put in place measures to slow down the spread of the virus. Many of the new rules took effect days before Christmas.

Canadians who want to keep their families safe this winter may want to be aware of what the new limits shall be.

Here’s a look at those new restrictions by province and territory:

This was updated with the latest COVID-19 restrictions for all provinces and territories on Dec. 21, 2021. bRitish columbia

Beginning on Dec. 23 and lasting until Jan. 18, 2022, no organized indoor social events or gatherings of any size will be permitted. Bars, nightclubs, gyms and dance studios are to be closed. Concerts, sporting events and theatres will be reduced to 50 per cent capacity, regardless of venue size. Restaurants and cafes will also be limited to six people per table with physical distancing or barriers.

Lasting until the end of January 2022, all indoor personal gatherings are restricted to 10 guests or one additional household, and only if everyone aged 12 and up is fully vaccinated. There are no restrictions for outdoor personal gatherings.

All organized events require use of the BC Vaccine Card and scanning of QR codes. Indoor organized gatherings can include up to 1,000 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is greater, with masking enforced. Spectators must be seated at concerts and other performances, weddings, lectures, presentations, workshops and sponsored and ticketed parties.

Organized outdoor events are limited to 5,000 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is greater.

Customers must remain seated and cannot move between or visit other tables at bars and restaurants and sports tournaments are also being suspended during this time. albERta

Private indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people aged 18 and up, with no limits on the number of children if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. If children attend a gathering by themselves, they count toward the limit of 10 people. The restriction does not apply to mutual support groups or workers who need to access your home to provide caregiving support or home repairs and maintenance.

Outdoor private gatherings are limited to 20 people with two metres of physical distancing between members of different households at all times.

Masking and two metres of physical distancing are mandatory in all indoor public spaces, workplaces and places of worship.

Starting on Dec. 24, bars and restaurants participating in the province’s Restrictions Exemption Program could only serve liquor until 11 p.m. and must close by 12:30 a.m. Only 10 people are allowed per table, with no mingling between tables or interactive activities, such as dancing, darts or billiards.

In addition, all indoor entertainment, event and recreation facilities participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program must abide by new capacity limits. Venues that can seat more than 1,000 people are limited to 50 per cent capacity. Those able to hold 500 to 1,000 people are limited to a maximum of 500 people. No food or drink consumption will be allowed while seated or during intermission.

Further restrictions related to other spaces, including retail settings and places of worship, can be found on the province’s website. sasKatchEWan

The province’s current public health order, which has been extended to the end of January, requires masking in all indoor public spaces, as in, any enclosed place other than a private home or dwelling. Proofof-vaccination or negative-test requirements are in place to access establishments, businesses and event venues that bring groups of people together. manitoba

Lasting until Jan. 11, private indoor gatherings are limited to 10 guests if everyone is fully vaccinated. If there are any unvaccinated people, the limit is five guests. Children under the age of 12 at such gatherings don’t need to be fully vaccinated.

Outdoor gatherings at a private residence are limited to 20 guests if everyone is fully vaccinated. Outdoor gatherings on public property are limited to 50 per cent of normal capacity if everyone is fully vaccinated or 50 people if anybody is unvaccinated. Again, children 12 and under at such gatherings are exempt from needing to be fully vaccinated.

Bars, restaurants, gyms, movie theatres, libraries and museums will be limited to 50 per cent capacity and require proof of vaccination, with the exception of libraries. Bars and restaurants will have seated service only with a maximum of 10 people per table.

Faith-based gatherings that require proof of vaccination will be limited to 50 per cent capacity. Those that do not require vaccination will be limited to 25 per cent or 25 people, whichever is lower.

Sports tournaments, indoors and outdoors, will be suspended. Games and practices will be allowed with spectator capacity reduced to 50 per cent.

Outdoor ticketed performing arts events, indoor recreational businesses, seasonal facilities and events, group instructional classes, as well as and bingo events and casinos, are limited to 50 per cent capacity and require proof of vaccination, except for those under 12 years old. ontaRio

Starting Dec. 19, private social gatherings are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.

Capacity limits for many indoor public settings, including bars, restaurants, retailers and shopping malls, will also be reduced to 50 per cent. The limit doesn’t apply to weddings or funerals, as well as religious services, rites or ceremonies.

Bars, restaurants and strip clubs will be required to close at 11 p.m., with the exception of take-out and delivery service. Patrons must remain seated with a maximum of 10 people per table. Dancing will not be allowed except for workers or performers. The sale of alcohol will be restricted after 10 p.m.

Food and drink services will be prohibited at sporting events and large venues, including theatres and cinemas. quEbEc

A maximum of 10 people or occupants from three households are able to gather inside private homes. Outdoors, on private property, a maximum of 20 people or occupants from three households are allowed to gather.

Private events in public spaces are limited to 10 people indoors with masking mandatory. Outdoors, the limit is 50 people.

As of Dec. 20 at 5 p.m., all bars, casinos, cinemas, gyms and performance venues are shut down. Restaurants can only open at 50 per cent capacity between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., however, delivery and drivethru orders may occur outside these