Release Date: Jan 20, 2022
The province is beginning to see signs of stabilization in key public health and health system indicators. As a result, the government of Ontario has announced
a three-step process for cautiously and gradually reopening the province.
In the absence of concerning trends in public health and health care indicators, Ontario will remain in each step for 21 days.
Enhanced proof of vaccination requirements in existing settings remain in place throughout each step of this plan.
NOTE: Public health, workplace safety and health care measures implemented January 5, 2022 remain in place until Step 1 begins.
Step 1
Effective January 31, 2022
- Social gathering limits increased (10 people indoors; 25 people outdoors).
- Indoor public setting capacity limits increased or maintained at 50%, including but not limited to:
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities.
- Retailers and shopping malls (including grocery stores and pharmacies).
- Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms.
- Cinemas.
- Meeting and event spaces.
- Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks.
- Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions.
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments.
- Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
Step 2
Effective February 21, 2022
- Social gathering limits increased (25 people indoors; 100 outdoors).
- Capacity limits removed for indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
- Restaurants.
- Indoor sports and recreational facilities.
- Cinemas.
- Other settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
- Capacity limits for indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required, set to the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance.
- Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies limited to the number that can maintain two metres of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required.
- Indoor capacity limits increased to 25% in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including:
- Nightclubs.
- Wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there is dancing.
- Bathhouses and sex clubs.
Step 3
Effective March 14, 2022
- Capacity limits lifted in all indoor public settings.
- Capacity limits lifted on religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
- Social gathering limits increased to 50 people indoors. No limits for outdoor gatherings.
To manage COVID-19 over the long-term, local and regional responses by public health units may be deployed based on local context and conditions.
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