Patio Season Could Start This Weekend

Monday, 7 June 2021 11:38

The Ontario Government is meeting today, and will discuss opening up the Province for step 1 on Friday.

The Ontario Cabinet is meeting today to discuss reopening the Province in Phase 1 on Friday.

Phase 1 is supposed to start the week of June 14. Last week Health Minister Christine Elliott hinted the Province could reopen ahead of schedule.

"People are anxious to move into Step 1, but we can only do that when it's safe for everyone’s health for that to happen."

Ontario's top doctors have stated the cases need to be between 500-600 daily cases for a safe reopening to be considered. Today the daily case number was 525.

If the Province moves into step 1 on Friday, it would give restaurants and retail stores an extra weekend to start allowing customers again. It would also speed up the process to get the Province into phase two.

Step 1 will include opening additional outdoor activities starting the week of June 14 with smaller crowds. This will include the following:

- Outdoor gatherings up to 10 people;
- Outdoor dining up to 4 people per table;
- Outdoor fitness classes, personal training and sports training up to 10 people;
- Essential retail at 25 per cent capacity and can sell all goods (including discount and big box);
- Non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity;
- Retail stores in malls closed unless the stores have a street facing entrance;
- Outdoor religious services, rites and ceremonies with capacity limited to permit 2 metres’ physical distancing;
- Horse racing and motor speedways without spectators;
- Outdoor horse riding;
- Outdoor pools, splash pads and wading pools with capacity limited to permit 2 metres’ physical distancing;
- Outdoor zoos, landmarks, historic sites, and botanical gardens with capacity limits;
- Campsites, campgrounds and short-term rentals; and
- Ontario Parks.

Ontario has already reached the vaccination threshold to enter step 1. Each step will happen with a 21 day interval and each step is based on hitting vaccine targets.

- Step 1: 60 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose.
- Step 2: 70 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses.
- Step 3: 70 to 80 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent vaccinated with two doses.