Ontario eases more COVID-19 restrictions today

Ford says the province is moving in the right direction

BY Dexter Tilo 17 Feb. 2022

Ontario will be taking another step closer to full reopening of the province today, four days earlier than planned, thanks to improving health indicators for COVID-19. The province initially intended to move to the second phase of reopening on February 21, but that date’s been pulled forwards due to falling positivity rates and declining hospital and ICU admissions.

Premier Doug Ford said in a statement that this is "great news" for the public but stressed that the fight is not over against COVID-19.

"Given how well Ontario has done in the Omicron wave we are able to fast track our reopening plan," said Ford. "While we aren't out of the woods just yet we are moving in the right direction."

Under the second phase of its reopening plan, the following restrictions are eased:

Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
Increasing organised public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
- Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
- Cinemas
- Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
- Casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments
- Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
Allowing 50% of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
Allowing 50% of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25% in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs
Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.

"Thanks to the province’s high vaccination rates and the continued sacrifices of Ontarians, we are now in a position where we can move forward in our plan earlier than anticipated," added Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Meanwhile, the province said it plans to ease more restrictions on March 1 if health system indicators continue to improve, including removing capacity limits in all indoor public settings. It also includes the removal of proof of vaccination requirements for all settings. The province, however, stressed that businesses and other settings may still choose to require them. The provincial government said that businesses who may have questions on public health and workplace safety measures may contact them through the Stop the Spread Business Information Line.