Northwestern Ontario has moved to Step Three of the province’s reopening plan today (Friday).
As of today, you’re allowed to gather with up to 100 people outside and 25 inside.
Other highlights include the opening of indoor dining with no limit on the number of people you can sit with at a table, as long as tables are physically distanced from separate parties.
You can get your sweat on again as indoor gyms and recreation facilities can open with a maximum of 50% capacity.
The wait is also over to go to movie theatres and concerts, with limits still in place.
Face coverings in indoor public spaces and physical distancing are still required in this step of reopening.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford says, “The accelerated step three re-opening, to take effect Friday July 16, is welcome news by residents and visitors across Northwestern Ontario today. Everyone has worked so hard and patiently at their safe measures of social distancing and have they have taken steps to get their first and second vaccines at an impressive pace.”
The full breakdown of Step Three includes, but is not limited to:
-Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 100 people with limited exceptions;
-Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
-Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted with physical distancing;
-Indoor dining permitted with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect;
-Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to open subject to a maximum 50 per cent capacity of the indoor space. Capacity for indoor spectators is 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is less. Capacity for outdoor spectators is 75 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 15,000 people, whichever is less;
-Indoor meeting and event spaces permitted to operate with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect and capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, (whichever is less);
-Essential and non-essential retail with with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
-Personal care services, including services requiring the removal of a face covering, with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
-Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals, with capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors;
-Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at:
up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less).
-Real estate open houses with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; and
-Indoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided, including nightclubs and restobars, permitted up to 25 per cent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people (whichever is less).
-Face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements remain in place throughout Step 3
