Capacity limits lifted for restaurants, gyms, casinos
Posted Oct 25, 2021 02:05:37 PM.
Capacity limits lifted Monday for restaurants and bars in Ontario, including some other settings where proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required, as the province continues to gradually lift pandemic restrictions.
The other settings include indoor sports and recreation facilities, bingo halls and gaming establishments.
Museums and galleries, places of worship, and personal care settings that choose to require proof of vaccination can also lift capacity limits.
The province announced Friday that it intends to lift all public health and workplace safety measures by March 28, 2022. However, the full reopening would be gradual and come in several stages.
“I’m going to be super cautious,” Premier Doug Ford said. “If we do not see numbers in a stable place, we just aren’t going to do it, it’s as simple as that.”
By Nov. 15, the province plans to lift capacity limits in food or drink establishments with dance facilities — such as night clubs and wedding receptions in meeting/event spaces where there is dancing — strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs.
Starting on Jan. 17, 2022, Ontario plans to begin gradually lifting capacity limits in settings where proof of vaccination is not required.
“Proof of vaccination requirements may also begin to be gradually lifted at this time, including for restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, facilities used for sports and recreational facilities and casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments,” the province said.
Then on March 28, all remaining public health and workplace safety measures could be lifted, and masks may no longer be required.
However, on Friday, Ford said if COVID-19 cases spiked again, the province would halt the reopening plans.
“This plan is built for the long term. It will guide us safely through the winter and out of this pandemic, while avoiding lockdowns and ensuring we don’t lose the hard-fought gains we have made.”
– With files from Michael Talbot of CityNews, and The Canadian Press
