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Step three reopening begins July 16; gatherings indoors and out increase

Ontario is moving to Step Three of re-opening Friday, July 16 (five days earlier than expected) as targets for vaccinations have been surpassed.

To enter Step Three, Ontario needed to have vaccinated 70 to 80 per cent of individuals 18 years of age or older with one dose and 25 per cent with two doses for at least two weeks. As of July 8 more than 77 per cent of the population in Ontario ages 12 and over have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and more than 50 per cent have received their second dose.

In Hastings Prince Edward, 78 per cent have received one dose; 45 per cent over age 12 and 47 per cent over age 18 are fully vaccinated.

The province also needed to see continued improvement in hospitalizations, ICU occupancy and the weekly cases incidence rates. Hastings Prince Edward has no new COVID-19 cases and five active (two each in North and Centre Hastings and one in Deseronto).

Step Three of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of additional indoor services with larger numbers of people and restrictions in place.

This includes, but is not limited to:
– Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 100 people with limited exceptions;
– Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
– Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted with physical distancing;
– Indoor dining permitted with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect;
– Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to open subject to a maximum 50 per cent capacity of the indoor space. Capacity for indoor spectators is 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is less. Capacity for outdoor spectators is 75 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 15,000 people, whichever is less;
– Indoor meeting and event spaces permitted to operate with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect and capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, (whichever is less);
– Essential and non-essential retail with with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
– Personal care services, including services requiring the removal of a face covering, with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
– Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals, with capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors;

Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at:
up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less).

– Real estate open houses with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; and
– Indoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided, including nightclubs and restobars, permitted up to 25 per cent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people (whichever is less).

Face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements remain in place throughout Step Three.

View the regulation for the full list of public health and workplace safety measures that need to be followed. 

“Thanks to the continued efforts of Ontarians adhering to public health measures and advice, as well as going out to get vaccinated, we have seen most key health indicators continue to improve,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “However, the pandemic is not over and we must all remain vigilant and continue following the measures and advice in place, as the Delta variant continues to pose a threat to public health.”

The province will remain in Step Three of the Roadmap for at least 21 days and until 80 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 75 per cent have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70 per cent of their population fully vaccinated. Other key public health and health care indicators must also continue to remain stable.

Upon meeting these thresholds, the vast majority of public health and workplace safety measures, including capacity limits for indoor and outdoor settings and limits for social gatherings, will be lifted. Only a small number of measures will remain in place, including the requirement for passive screening, such as posting a sign, and businesses requiring a safety plan.

 

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