Key takeaways:
- According to sources, as part of a plan to lift restrictions over the next few weeks, Ontario will allow restaurants to reopen at 50% capacity on January 31.
- On Wednesday, Dr. Eileen de Villa, the Medical Officer of Health for Toronto, said that any relaxation of restrictions in Ontario should be done gradually.
According to sources, Ontario will allow restaurants to reopen at 50% capacity on January 31 as part of a plan to lift limitations over the next few weeks.
The Doug Ford government expected to announce at Queen’s Park on Thursday.
Ford is predicted to announce that the December closures will be replaced with capacity limits.
Also read: COVID limits in Ontario will be announced this week, according to an official
According to sources, limitations will be gradually eased throughout February, with Ford pushing for a full restarting in March.
“Restaurants, gyms, as well as other folks” should anticipate a positive declaration from the province later this week, Ford stated earlier on Wednesday.
This is the 2nd time Ford has said that “positive news” about loosening the province’s latest public health limitations is on the way.
Minister of Health Christine Elliott also stated that the province would have “more to say later this week about any motion concerning restrictions.”
“We understand that people and businesses want to know what the future holds, and as the prime minister stated yesterday, we will provide more clarity later this week,” Elliott said.
Elliott said the province’s COVID-19 data showed “glimmers of hope” and that infections are expected to peak in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Ontario business owners have been clamoring for information about the reopening, claiming that a lack of direction has left them confused and distrustful.
On Wednesday, Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, said that any relaxation of restrictions in Ontario should be done gradually.
“The key here is to take it slowly,” she explained. “Taking some time to assess the effects of the changes before moving on to the next step.”
Source: CTV News
Get Canada and Ontario’s top News, Market news, and other worldwide news only on Ontario Independent
