Key sentence:
- The Ontario government announced more COVID-19 restrictions on Monday as a result of the Omicron variant’s rapid growth.
Due to the rapid growth of the Omicron variant, the Ontario government announced more COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, stating that the province will return to a modified Step 2 of the reopening plan.
Premier Doug Ford announced the new measures during a press conference as COVID-19 hospitalizations and case counts rose throughout the province.
LIMITS ON GATHERING HAVE BEEN REDUCED.
Limits on social gatherings will be lowered to five people indoors and ten people outside.
Indoor capacity at organized public events will be limited to five people.
Businesses and organizations will need to make sure that employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
LIMITS ON CAPACITY HAVE BEEN REDUCED
Indoor weddings, funerals, religious services, rites, and ceremonies will have a capacity limit of 50% of the room’s capacity.
When using outdoor services, the number of people who can maintain a physical distance of two meters is limited. The social gatherings of these services must follow the social gathering guidelines.
Retail establishments, such as shopping malls will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Physical separation in line-ups will be required in shopping malls, and food courts will be required to shut.
Personal care services will be permitted to operate at a capacity of 50%.
Saunas, steam rooms, and oxygen bars will be closed for the duration of the event. The capacity of public libraries is capped at 50%.
Also read: The Ford govt is considering a ban on indoor dining and tighter gathering restrictions
CLOSURES
With a few exceptions, indoor meeting and event spaces must close, but outdoor spaces can remain open with restrictions.
Indoor dining will be prohibited in restaurants, bars, and other food and beverage establishments. Outdoor dining is permitted with restrictions and takeout, drive-through, and delivery.
Indoor concert venues, cinemas, and theatres will be closed, but rehearsals and recorded performances will be allowed under certain conditions.
All museums, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens, galleries, zoos, science centers, and other similar attractions, as well as amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services, rural exhibitions, and festivals, will close.
Outdoor businesses will be allowed to open with restrictions and, where applicable, a 50 percent spectator occupancy limit.
Horse races, car races, and other similar events will be canceled. Outdoor businesses will be allowed to open with certain restrictions, such as a 50 percent spectator capacity limit. Boat tours will be allowed once the facility reaches 50% capacity.
Except for athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and select professional and elite amateur sports leagues, indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms, will be closed. Outdoor facilities will be allowed to operate, but only if the number of spectators exceeds 50% and other conditions are met.
CLOSURES OF SCHOOLS
Starting January 5, all publicly funded and private schools will transition to remote learning until at least January 17, depending on public health trends and operational considerations.
School buildings would be allowed to open for child care and in-person instruction for students with special education needs who could not be served remotely.
SURGERIES
On January 5, the Chief Medical Officer of Health will reintroduce Directive 2, which instructs hospitals to halt all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures to “preserve critical care and human resource capacity.”
Source: CTV News
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