By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini has released details of the government's Roadmap to Reopen, formulated in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
It is described as “a three-step plan to safely and cautiously reopen the province and gradually lift public health measures in response to recent improvements in public health and health-system indicators.”
The continuing success of Ontario's vaccine rollout and the collective efforts Ontarians have made in following public-health and workplace-safety measures is credited for the reopening – as of 12:01 a.m. May 22 – of outdoor recreational amenities (with restrictions) and the increase of outdoor gathering limits to five people.
“While we know that now is not yet the moment to reopen, Ontarians deserve to know the path forward on what we will carefully reopen and when, starting with the settings we know are the safest,” it stated.
Three steps have been identified, to be implemented when certain criteria have been achieved.
Based on current trends in key health indicators, including the provincial vaccination rate, the government expects to enter Step One the week of June 14. This step has an initial focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds and permitting retail with restrictions. It includes outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining with up to four people per table and the reopening of non-essential retail at 15% capacity.
The province will remain in each step for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public-health and health-system indicators. If, at the end of the 21 days, the vaccination thresholds have been met and indicators remain positive, the province will move to the next step.
Step Two further expands outdoor activities and allows limited indoor services to resume with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. This includes outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people, outdoor sports and leagues, personal-care services (where face coverings can be work) as well as indoor services, rites and ceremonies with gatherings at 15% capacity.
Step Three expands access to indoor settings with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings cannot always be worn. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness, indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls – with capacity limits.
The notice expressed confidence that the Roadmap is a path out of the pandemic that will encourage Ontarians to get vaccinated and to continue following public-health advice.
