Ontario moving to Step 3 on July 16

Ontario is moving to the next step of reopening early.

Step 3 of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen will start Friday, July 16. 

It allows for indoor dining and expands indoor activities where face coverings can't always be worn. For this step, face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing are still required. Face coverings are also required in some outdoor public settings as well.

Ontario moved to Step 2 on June 30 and was supposed to be at that stage for at least 21 days. The province has already met its key vaccination targets for the move — having 70 to 80 per cent of adults with one dose and 25 per cent of adults being fully vaccinated.

As of July 8, over 77 per cent of people in Ontario ages 12 and up have received their first dose and more than 50 per cent have received their second dose. There has also been continued improvement in key public health indicators such as hospitalizations, ICU occupancy and weekly case rates.

“While this is exciting news, we must still remain vigilant and continue to follow the public health measure we know work and keep us safe. Vaccines remain our ticket out of the pandemic so if you haven’t booked your appointment yet, please do so today," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, in a news release.

Step 3 allows for, but isn't 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).

The province will stay at Step 3 for at least 21 days and until 80 per cent of the eligible population 12 years and up has their first dose and 75 per cent have received their second dose, according to the announcement. All public health units must also have at least 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," reads the announcement.

A full breakdown of the Roadmap to Reopen is available here.