Lambton's medical officer of health is urging everyone to remain vigilant as Ontario returns to the first stage of its three step COVID reopening plan Monday.
All indoor public settings like restaurants, gyms, casinos, and retail establishments can reopen at 50 per cent capacity. Social gatherings are now limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
Dr. Sudit Ranade said this will impact residents in a couple of different ways.
"The first piece is, the more you can do in more spaces, the more chance you have to spread the disease," said Dr. Ranade. "The other piece that's probably more significant is the signaling effect that this has. When you signal that other things are open, you make it easier for people to rationalize getting together socially. That means they'll do more of that which means they will spread disease in those ways. The problem is, we won't really be able to detect (COVID) because we don't have as much testing as we used to and I don't know when or if that's going to change. We're going to be largely dependent on anecdotes and then late indicators like hospitalizations."
Theatres, concert venues, and sports venues are capped at 50 per cent capacity or 500 people whichever is less.
If positive trends continue and health system indicators remain stable, phase two of reopening will begin on February 21. Social gathering limits will increase to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
All capacity limits will be lifted in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required. Spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues, and theatres will be increased to 50 per cent. Higher risk indoor settings like nightclubs and wedding receptions will be allowed to operate at 25 per cent capacity.
On March 14, capacity limits will be lifted at all indoor public settings, however, proof of vaccination will still be required. Social gatherings will be limited to 50 people indoors with no limits outdoors.
The plan does not indicate when vaccination mandates will be lifted for public settings despite plans laid out in October stating vaccination mandates would no longer be required by this time. The plan also does not indicate when mask mandates could be lifted.
