The Province is going to move into Step One of it's Roadmap to Reopen plan at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
Speaking in Brussels Monday afternoon, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson said it's great news for Ontario and she credits everyone in Huron and Bruce counties.
“And I have to commend everyone in Huron County and Bruce County and our neighbouring counties as well for really respecting the protocols and the direction from our Medical Officers of Health and because of that our vaccination rates are well above 70 per cent,” said Thompson.
Step One of the Road Map focuses on the resumption of more outdoor activities with smaller crowds where risk of transmission is lower.
It also allows more limited indoor settings to be open but with restrictions in place.
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government has amended Step One to permit indoor religious services, rites and ceremonies, including wedding and funeral services limited to 15 per cent capacity.
“We've identified 21 days between each step, but again, if our vaccination rates continue to sky rocket and case counts and our use of ICUs continue to decline, we need to see what direction we're given from the Chief Medical Officer of Health," added Thompson.
MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, Bill Walker, also released a statement about the reopening plans.
“I’m happy to see our province moving into Step One of our Roadmap to Reopen. Thank you to all the residents of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound for their sacrifices throughout this pandemic, and to Dr. Arra and the team at Grey Bruce Public Health for their leadership and efforts,” said Bill Walker. “We have made a lot of progress and there still is work to be done. I encourage everybody to continue to be vigilant and continue following public health regulations.”
Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen includes but is not limited to:
- Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 10 people;
- Outdoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
- Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 15 per cent capacity of the particular room;
- Non-essential retail permitted at 15 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold;
- Essential and other select retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold;
- Outdoor dining with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households;
- Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor groups in personal training and outdoor individual/team sport training to be permitted with up to 10 people, among other restrictions;
- Day camps for children permitted to operate in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines for COVID-19 produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health;
- Overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites, including Ontario Parks, and short-term rentals;
- Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open outdoors for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance with no more than 10 performers, among other restrictions;
- Outdoor horse racing tracks and motor speedways permitted to operate without spectators; and
- Outdoor attractions such as zoos, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens with capacity and other restrictions.
