Ontario moves to Step One on Friday: Here’s what you need to know locally

While there will certainly be some changes to what’s open and available in Sudbury on Friday, June 11 at 12:01 a.m., it may not be as wide open as some hope. Reduced capacity, face-coverings and physical distancing regulations are still in place, though lightened under the Step 1 framework.

While non-essential items can now be purchased in many stores, those stores will still be at reduced capacity until the province enters Step Two, and many outside of the City of Greater Sudbury are still closed, including Timmins.

Essential retail services can now open at a slightly increased 25-per-cent capacity and discount and big box stores can sell all goods. Non-essential retail can operate at 15-per-cent capacity and can sell all goods.

This only relates to retailers that have their own street-facing entrance, rather than a location inside a mall.

That’s because indoor malls are not open to the public under Step 1. Retail stores in malls are closed unless the stores have a street-facing entrance, but many of the stores are continuing to offer curbside pickup.

This is true of the New Sudbury Centre and the Southridge Mall, as well as Elm Place (formerly the Rainbow Centre). You can find more details about the New Sudbury Centre website, and contact the specific stores in the other Sudbury malls.

However, if you are looking to spend some time on a restaurant patio, you are in luck. Many restaurants are opening their patios, even temporary patios, and though there are still limitations, for instance, there are no more than four people allowed at a table and face-coverings must be worn.

As well, a majority of local restaurants are not taking reservations for their patio seatings, operating on a first come, first serve basis, and some have time limits in place

Indoor religious services, rites and ceremonies including weddings and funerals at 15-per-cent capacity of the room and any outdoors religious services, rites and ceremonies including weddings and funerals are allowed, but again with limited capacity, in order to accommodate physical distancing of two metres.

Step 1 will also help keep the kids entertained with a move to increasing capacity at outdoor pools and wading pools, now limited only to permit physical distancing of two metres. Now, outdoor zoos, landmarks, historic sites and botanical gardens are open with capacity limited to 15 per cent for ticketed areas, as well as day camps.

And while provincial parks had been opened for day use previously, and the Greater Sudbury Public Library now offers free day use passes, overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites, including Ontario Parks, is allowed under Step 1.

The move to Step 1 is based on the provincewide vaccination rate and continuing improvements in what the Ontario government calls “key public health and health system indicators,” including the vaccination of 60 per cent of adults with at least one dose for two weeks or longer, ensuring the first dose offers a strong level of protection against COVID-19.

As of June 6 at 8:00 p.m., 72 per cent of the 18+ population in Ontario had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with more than 10 million doses now having been administered.

The full list of what is open and not can be found here. The provincial government says the aspects of Step one will allow more outdoor activities to resume with smaller, well-managed crowds where risk of transmission is minimized, and will permit retail, all with restrictions in place.

The Ontario government website states the following:

outdoor gatherings up to 10 people
outdoor dining up to 4 people per table
outdoor fitness classes, personal training and sports training up to 10 patrons. No games or practices permitted
essential retail at 25% capacity and discount and big box stores can sell all goods
non-essential retail at 15% capacity and can sell all goods
retail stores in malls closed unless the stores have a street facing entrance
indoor religious services, rites and ceremonies including weddings and funerals at 15% capacity of the room
outdoors religious services, rites and ceremonies including weddings and funerals are permitted with capacity limited to permit physical distancing of 2 metres
horse racing, motor speedways without spectators
outdoor pools and wading pools with capacity limited to permit physical distancing of 2 metres
outdoor zoos, landmarks, historic sites, and botanical gardens with capacity limited to 15% for ticketed areas
day camps
overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites, including Ontario Parks

You can also find information about specific Sudbury restaurants and retail spaces by checking their social media. Below are just some examples of what will be opening come Friday morning.

All businesses re-opening are asking for your patience as they try to negotiate this new step.

If you own a business and would like to share information on your reopening plans with Sudbury.com readers, you can email [email protected] and we will include you on the list below.