Masking requirements will stay in place for now, but the province says a timeline to lift them will come later
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TORONTO — Ontario says it will lift its COVID-19 vaccine certificate system on March 1.
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On that date, the province will also lift capacity limits in all indoor settings.
Masking requirements will stay in place for now, but the province says a timeline to lift them will come later.
Premier Doug Ford says with public health indicators improving, the province can fast-track its plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions, including moving the next step of its reopening plan up to Thursday instead of next Monday.
On that day, social gathering limits will increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, while capacity limits will be removed in places such as restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theatres.
“Given how well Ontario has done in the Omicron wave we are able to fast track our reopening plan,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement Monday. “This is great news and a sign of just how far we’ve come together in our fight against the virus. While we aren’t out of the woods just yet we are moving in the right direction.
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Starting Thursday:
Social gathering limits 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
Capacity limits gone from indoor settings requiring proof of vaccination including restaurants, gyms, drinks establishments without dancing, non-spectaor areas of sports and fitness facilities, cinemas, meeting spaces, casinos, bingo halls.
Fifty per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arena, concert venues and theatres.
Twenty-five per cent capacity at nightclubs, bathhouses sex clubs.
Capacity at wedding, funeral, religious ceremonies enough to allow social distancing.
Starting Friday at 8 a.m.:
Youth aged 12 to 17 eligible for booster shot.
Starting March 1:
Lifting of all proof of vaccination requirements for all settings. Businesses can opt to keep mandates, masking requirements stay in place.
