Good news, Ontario! It looks like we’re back on the road to reopening. The premier announced on Thursday that indoor establishments like restaurants, gyms, bars, shopping centers, retail stores, and cinemas will get to open at 50% capacity starting on Monday, January 31st.
Plus, indoor attractions like museums, galleries, zoos, casinos, and event spaces will get to open back up at half of their capacity. However, nightclubs and other higher-risk settings can’t open just yet.
The plan also includes sports arenas, concert venues, and theatres, which can open at 50% seated capacity or for a maximum of 500 people, whichever is less.
Recent Posts
This Toronto bar is transforming into a Las Vegas-style elopement chapel
Toronto’s priciest condo for sale is a $35m penthouse that’s not even built yet
View this post on Instagram
Also going into effect on January 31st are the new gathering limits, which will be increased to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
The province has released a timeline for when other restrictions will be lifted throughout the coming weeks if Ontario’s COVID-19 trends continue to move in a positive direction.
On February 21st, capacity limits will be removed entirely at indoor settings where proof of vaccination is required and capacity at arenas and concert venues will be increased to 50%. Higher-risk settings with dancing will be allowed to open at 25%.
Then on March 14th, all remaining capacity limits will be removed and proof of vaccination requirements will remain in place.
View this post on Instagram
This is a far cry from the statement Ontario put out back in October which said that all public health measures, including masks and proof of vaccination, could be lifted by March 22nd. Granted, those were pre-Omicron days when we were all feeling a bit too optimistic.
“The months ahead will require continued vigilance, as we don’t want to cause any more unnecessary disruptions to people’s everyday lives,” Dr. Kieran Moore said in Thursday’s announcement.
Here’s to hoping that we only have good news to report from here on out!
