Golfers and tennis players rejoice, the province is reopening outdoor recreational amenities on Saturday, May 22 as part of the first step reopening plan.
Premier Doug Ford released the province’s Roadmap to Reopen Thursday during a press conference, where he released details of a three-stage reopening plan to exit the provincewide emergency break and lift the stay-at-home order, which has been extended until June 2.
These amenities include but are not limited to golf courses and driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, and skate parks. No outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted.
Outdoor limits for social gatherings and organized public events will be expanded to five people, which will allow these amenities to be used for up to five people, including with members of different households. All other public health and workplace safety measures under the provincewide emergency brake will remain in effect.
“We have been through so much in the past 15 months,” Ford said. “Everyone has made tremendous sacrifices. We are in a better place right now, and it’s a result of your commitment to keeping safe. We cannot risk undoing the progress we’ve made, so please keep following the guidelines closely. We aren’t done with the pandemic yet.”
Roadmap to Reopen outlines three steps to easing public health measures, guided by the following principles:
Step 1: An initial focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower, and permitting retail with restrictions. This includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining with up to four people per table and non-essential retail at 15-per-cent capacity.
Step 2: Further expanding outdoor activities and resuming limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. This includes outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people, outdoor sports and leagues, personal care services where face coverings can be worn and with capacity limits, as well as indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 per cent capacity.
Step 3: Expanding access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness; indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls, with capacity limits.
Based on current trends, the province expects to enter Step 1 around the week of June 14, said Health Minister and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott. Each step should last for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators.
“The speed at which we get through this reopening will come down to one thing — how quickly we get vaccinated,” said Ford. ‘IF you haven’t been vaccinated, get it now. If you have, encourage others to do so. That’s the single biggest factor in our fight against COVID-19, and how we begin to look at a great summer.”
Vaccination thresholds will have to be met, along with positive trends in other key public health and health system indicators, before moving onto the next step.
Step 1 will need 60 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose.
Step 2 will need 70 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses.
Step 3 will need 70 to 80 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent vaccinated with two doses.
“We put in place strict measures to give ourselves time to roll out more vaccinations,” said Ford. “(Those measures) came with a great price. (Reopening) is being done with extreme caution, the only way it will work. We must approach this in the most careful and disciplined way. I know you want certainty, a plan you can count on, that is predictable and transparent, and that’s what this framework is designed to do. There might be some who want to move faster, but we can’t risk it right now.”
Infographic of Ontario's three-stage reopening plan, announced May 20. By Ontario Government
