July 9, 2021
Based on the provincewide vaccination rate and continuing improvements in key public health and health system indicators, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is moving the province into Step Three of its Roadmap to Reopen plan on Friday, July 16, 2021. It will remain in Step Three for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators.
In order to safely enter Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen, Ontario needed to have vaccinated 70-80% of individuals 18 years of age or older with at least one dose, and 25% with two doses. As of July 8, 2021, over 77% of the 12+ population in Ontario had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and over 50% have received their second dose.
Before entering Step Three, the province also needed to see continued improvement in key public health and health system indicators. Between June 29 to July 5, 2021, the provincial case rate decreased by 23.3%. As of July 8, the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs dropped from 305 (June 24) to 202. The province expects these trends to continue.
Step Three of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of more outdoor activities and limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn, with other restrictions in place.
Face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements remain in place throughout Step Three.
| Step Three 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).
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Read the full Media Release here
Learn more about the Roadmap to Reopen Plan
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