Ontario PC government in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has released its Roadmap to Reopen, a three-step plan to safely and cautiously reopen the province and gradually lift public health measures. In response to recent improvements in public health and health system indicators, Ontario will also reopen outdoor recreational amenities with restrictions in place.
Due to the continuing success of Ontario’s vaccine rollout and the collective efforts of Ontarians in following public health and workplace safety measures to date, effective May 22, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. the province will reopen outdoor recreational amenities with restrictions, and outdoor gathering limits will be expanded to five people. Ontario will safely reopen outdoor recreational amenities such as golf courses, tennis courts, skateboarding parks and sports fields, with restrictions in place. No outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted. Read more
While we know that now is not yet the moment to reopen, Ontarians deserve to know the path forward on what we will carefully reopen and when, starting with the settings we know are the safest.
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 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, 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.
Nina Tangri, MPP Mississauga-Streetsville said, ‘Based on current trends in key health indicators, including the provincial vaccination rate, the government expects to enter Step One of the roadmaps the week of June 14, 2021.
Brighter days are ahead. This Roadmap represents a path out of the pandemic and will encourage Ontarians to get vaccinated and to continue following public health advice.
