Effective March 1, Ontario will lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings as part of its COVID-19 reopening plan, although businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination. Masking requirements will remain in place at this time, but the province will provide a specific timeline to lift this measure at a later date.
The news was announced at a press conference held by Premier Doug Ford and his cabinet on Monday morning.
Ford noted that, given how well Ontario has done in the Omicron wave, the province is able to fast track their reopening plan.
“Let me be very clear: we’re moving in this direction because it’s safe to do so,” Ford said at the press conference.
I have said from the very beginning that the extraordinary measures we introduced during the pandemic would only be used for as long as they were absolutely necessary.
We are able to move forward and ease restrictions because of each and every one of you. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/GWehsIDk7H
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 14, 2022
Ford also announced that beginning on February 17, the province will:
- Increase social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
- Increase organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
The province will also remove capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including the following:
- Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
- Cinemas
- Meeting and event spaces (including conference centres or convention centres)
- Casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments
- Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
The province will allow 50% of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas and 50% of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres.
As for the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required (e.g., nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, bathhouses, sex clubs, etc.), the province will increase indoor capacity limits to 25%.
For indoor weddings, funerals, religious services, rites, or ceremonies, the province will allow an increase that corresponds to the number of people who can maintain two metres of physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.
Other indoor public settings, including grocery stores, pharmacies, retail, and shopping malls, will be maintained at, or increased to, the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.
In a press release, the government noted that effective March 1, Ontario plans to take additional steps to ease public health measures if public health system indicators continue to improve, including lifting capacity limits in all remaining indoor public settings.
The news received a mixed reaction on Twitter. While some were excited, many stated that the majority of Ontarians want to keep the current restrictions in place:
Hey @fordnation just in case you thought we forgot. 90% of us want to KEEP the current public health measures (masks, vaccine certificates) at least until children are able to be vaccinated. Don’t give in to the mouthy 10%.
— Thomas Watson (@ThomasWatsonCD) February 13, 2022
So glad to hear the pandemic is over @fordnation. Have you advised the virus as yet?
— Bridget Fewtrell (@bridgetfewtrell) February 14, 2022
Some even stated that they won’t go into a restaurant if they’re not sure other patrons are vaccinated.
I will not go to an indoor restaurant not knowing that everyone in there is vaccinated. Too early for that – for many of us. Maybe this decision will do more harm than good.
— MJ (@MJ_OTTAWA) February 14, 2022
On Monday, the province reported 1,765 new cases of COVID-19; 1,369 people are hospitalized with the virus and 394 people in ICU with COVID-19.
In Ontario, 31,303,825 vaccine doses have been administered to date; 92.4% of Ontarians 12+ have one dose and 90.1% have two doses.
Click here for more COVID-19 Ontario news, and here for where you could get rapid COVID-19 tests in Toronto (including a drive-thru option).
