As public health and health indicators continue to improve in Ontario, the premier's office confirmed this morning the government is moving to Step Two of the reopening process next week.
A news release said the province will ease pandemic restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30, two days ahead of schedule and just in time for the Canada Day statutory holiday.
"Because of the tireless work of our health care heroes, and the record-setting success of our vaccine rollout, we are able to move into Step Two ahead of schedule on June 30 with the support of our public health experts” said Premier Doug Ford.
“We are proceeding safely with the re-opening of our province and will continue to work around the clock until the job is done.”
One of the provisions for moving to Step Two, set out by the government back on June 11, was reaching certain COVID-19 vaccination milestones. The province said 70 per cent of adults needed their first dose of the vaccine and 20 per cent were required to have their second dose. Ontario has already met those requirements, said the premier's office. As of June 23, more than 76 per cent of Ontario residents over 18 have received their first vaccination and roughly 29 per cent have received their second dose.
Before entering Step Two, the province also needed to see continued improvement in key public health and health care indicators, including hospitalizations, ICU occupancy and the weekly cases incidence rates.
After entering Step One, during the period of June 11 to 17, the provincial case rate decreased by 24.6 per cent. As of June 22, the number of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs is 305, including 10 patients from Manitoba, as compared to 450 two weeks ago. The province expects these positive trends to continue over the coming days before entering Step Two.
Step Two 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. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
- Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 5 people;
- Essential and other select retail permitted at 50 per cent capacity;
- Non-essential retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
- Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times, and at 25 per cent capacity and other restrictions;
- Outdoor dining with up to 6 people per table, with exceptions for larger households and other restrictions;
- Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 25 per cent capacity of the particular room;
- Outdoor fitness classes limited to the number of people who can maintain 3 metres of physical distance;
- Outdoor sports without contact or modified to avoid contact, with no specified limit on number of people or teams participating, with restrictions;
- Overnight camps for children operating in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health;
- Outdoor sport facilities with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
- Outdoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
- Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity;
- Outdoor fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals, permitted at 25 per cent capacity and with other restrictions.
While the province has surpassed Step 3 vaccination targets, the government said it may keep Ontario in Step Two for a period of approximately 21 days “to allow the most recent vaccinations to reach their full effectiveness and to evaluate any impacts of moving to Step Two on key public health and health care indicators.”
