Ontario to ease COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants, indoor gatherings on Jan. 31
Masking and other measures in place to fight COVID-19 will go to a full review in the spring, Ontario’s chief medical officer pledged as he detailed how daily life will change when the province begins another reopening Monday.
The scent of popcorn will greet moviegoers as cinemas reopen at 50 per cent capacity, the same level as for indoor restaurant dining, gyms, museums, galleries, casinos, religious services and other venues shut or severely restricted since Jan. 5.
Food and drink sales can also resume at indoor sporting events, concert halls, theatres, bingo halls, casinos and race tracks. But patrons must be in their designated seats before sipping and snacking to minimize potential exposures.
“That’s when you can take off your mask and enjoy the food that you purchased,” medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore said Thursday.
He cautioned that risks remain, something that Ontarians must take into account as the latest wave of COVID-19 crests.
“Omicron is still quite active in our communities. It will be a difficult February but it’ll be a better March.”
The proof-of-vaccination system for indoor dining, movies, gyms and other venues remains in place, with two doses required.
Despite growing pressure in medical circles and from opposition parties to make third doses mandatory to qualify as fully vaccinated and to increase the uptake of boosters, Moore said he has not recommended that step to Premier Doug Ford.
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Moore told a news conference he is “waiting nationally to hear the direction of the federal government or other governments across Canada,” although he noted third shots provide “exceptional” protection.
Other changes coming Monday include most businesses no longer having to collect customer information for contact tracing and the resumption of some medical procedures halted this month to free up hospital beds for a record surge of COVID-19 patients. Working from home is no longer required for those who can do it, but is still recommended.
Limits for private gatherings rise to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors. Leafs and Raptors games will be limited to 500 spectators.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business applauded the reopening of concession stands following earlier indications they would remain closed for a few more weeks.
“This is good to hear,” said spokesman Ryan Mallough. “It made zero sense that you could eat in a restaurant but not a movie theatre.”
Absent new variants, which could disrupt any reopening just as Omicron did, Moore said he expects cases to decline through February into March and April.
“As we head into that low endemic rate, that’s when we review all public health measures that have been put in play,” he said.
“No one wants them a minute longer than they have to be and they have to be proportionate to the risk.”
Next steps in what Ford calls a “cautious” reopening come in three-week intervals if trends remain favourable.
On Feb. 21, gathering limits increase to 25 indoors and 100 outside. Capacity limits will be removed in restaurants, bars and other indoor public settings like gyms where proof of vaccination is required, although concerts and large sporting events like Leafs and Raptors games, as well as concerts, face limits of 50 per cent capacity.
Starting March 14, indoor capacity limits will be lifted in all public settings and up to 50 people will be allowed to gather socially indoors with no limits for outdoors.
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canada press 1/29/2022 |
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