Most Ontario restaurants, gyms, and movie theaters no longer require proof of COVID-19 immunization, and nightclubs, sporting and performance venues can remove capacity limits and restrictions on social gathering sizes.
The majority of Ontario’s COVID-19 public health regulations are expiring today, while Premier Doug Ford has stated that mask mandates will likely remain in place for at least a few more weeks.
COVID-19 hospitalizations and test positivity rates have dropped dramatically since the Omicron wave peaked in January, while wastewater data suggests cases may be on the rise again.
Ford says that the vaccine certificate system was always intended to be time-limited, and he is only now removing it due to the advice of the chief medical officer of health, but people should still exercise caution because the pandemic isn’t over.
Venues that still had capacity limits in place, including sports arenas, concert venues, theatres, nightclubs, and restaurants where there is dancing, can now scrap those restrictions.
As well, settings where capacity had been limited to the number of people who could maintain two metres of distance – including weddings and funerals, as well as retail shops, pharmacies and grocery stores – can eliminate that requirement.
For the time being, a number of companies, including restaurants, recreational facilities, and museums, have stated that they will continue to need vaccinations.
All COVID-19 measures, with the exception of masking, are being phased out in the provincial legislature, which means that representatives will no longer be classified into cohorts and will be able to attend all debates, committees, and other legislative proceedings.
Meanwhile, the New Democratic Party (NDP) claims that some legislative restrictions should be kept in place because elected officials should lead by example and not pretend that the pandemic is ended.
Source_ The Canadian Press
