Ontarians could get professional haircuts for the first time in months as of Wednesday, June 30, as the province enters into Step 2 of its reopening plan at 12:01 a.m.
Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, made the announcement last Thursday morning at Queens Park. The province was originally scheduled to move to Step 2 on July 2, but officials decided to open two days early due to continued improvements in COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy, weekly cases incidence rates and vaccination numbers.
Here’s a full list of what will be open/permitted as part of Step 2:
Gatherings
- Maximum 25 people for outdoor gatherings
- Maximum 5 people for indoor gatherings
Religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services (does not apply to receptions)
- Indoor permitted at 25% capacity of the room
Retail
- Stores in shopping malls will be open
- Essential retail at 50% capacity
- Non-essential retail at 25% capacity
Liquor stores
- Open at 50% capacity
Restaurants and bars
- Outdoor dining with 6 people per table and other restrictions
- Karaoke permitted with restrictions (outdoor only)
Personal care services
- Open at 25% capacity
- Appointment required
- Services that require the removal of a face covering will not be permitted
Sports and recreational fitness facilities
- Outdoor sports leagues open
- Training for professional or amateur athletes and/or competitions
- Closed for indoor use except for high-performance athletes and day or overnight camps
Personal fitness and training
- Outdoor fitness classes and personal training – with limits on the number of patrons and 3 metres distance required
Outdoor recreational amenities
- Open with restrictions
Water features
- Outdoor pools, splash pads, spray pads, whirlpools, wading pools and water slides are open
Meeting and event spaces
- Outdoor spaces open at 25% capacity and other restrictions
- Indoor meeting and event spaces are closed, with exceptions for certain purposes, including for viewing for potential booking of a future event
Day camps
- Open based on guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health (PDF)
Overnight camps
- Open based on guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health
Commercial film and TV production
- Open with no audience, plus other restrictions
Performing arts
- Indoor permitted only for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted event – spectators not permitted
- Outdoor open, including live music, with spectator capacity at 25% and other restrictions
Cinemas
- Indoor closed
- Outdoor open with spectator capacity at 25% and other restrictions
Casino, bingo halls and gaming establishments
- Closed
Horse racing
- Outdoor open with spectator capacity at 25% and other restrictions
Motorsports and speedways
- Outdoor open with spectator capacity at 25% and other restrictions
Short-term rentals (does not include hotels, motels, lodges or resorts but does apply to cabins and cottages)
- Open
- Indoor pools, communal steam rooms, saunas or indoor whirlpools, indoor fitness centres, or other indoor recreational facilities are closed
Hotels, motels, lodges, resorts and other shared rental accommodation
- Open—but indoor pools, communal steam rooms, saunas or indoor whirlpools, indoor fitness centres or other indoor recreational facilities are closed
Public libraries
- Open with 25% capacity and other restrictions
Museums and attractions
- Outdoor waterparks are open with 25% capacity and other restrictions
- Outdoor amusement parks are open with 25% capacity and other restrictions, including on rides
Fairs and rural exhibitions
- Outdoor open at 25% capacity and other restrictions (Canada’s Wonderland is set to open July 7, with restrictions)
Teaching and instruction (for example, recreational classes and lessons)
- Outdoor open, with distancing and other restrictions
Tour and guide services
- Outdoor open, with capacity at 25% and other restrictions
Construction
- All construction open
Driving instruction
- Driving instruction permitted with restrictions
Ontario Parks and campgrounds
- Open
Marinas and boating clubs
- Permitted with clubhouses, and other indoor amenities are closed
Strip clubs
- Permitted to operate as a restaurant in alignment with restaurant restrictions
Domestic services
- Open
Photography studios and services
- Outdoor and limited indoor open with restrictions
Community centres and multi-purpose facilities
- Open for social services, child care and day and overnight camps, mental health support services or addictions support services, and permitted indoor activities and services, with restrictions
Real estate open houses
- Showings by appointment only
Drive-in and drive-through events
- Open with restrictions
Health and safety training
- Indoor: 10 person limit
- Outdoor open, with capacity and other restrictions
On Tuesday, Ontario reported 299 cases of COVID-19 (an increase from the 210 cases reported the previous day) with over 28,300 tests completed. This includes 130 new cases in Toronto, 69 in the Region of Waterloo, 20 in Peel Region, 11 in Grey Bruce, 10 in Durham Region and 10 in Niagara Region. Twenty-five deaths were also reported (an increase from the three deaths reported the previous day).
At last Thursday’s press conference, Dr. Williams said the province will be “data-driven” in its decisions and will continue to monitor key public health indicators, as well as variants of concern.
As of Tuesday morning, 14,472,741 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.
Click here for more COVID-19 Ontario updates.
