Ontario Moving to Next Phase of Reopening on February 17

Today, the Government of Ontario announced that the Province will move to the next phase of its three-step reopening plan effective February 17, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. Phase two was originally planned to come into effect on February 21 and phase three on March 14, 2022.

Effective February 17, 2022

Ontario will further ease public health measures, including, but not limited to:

• Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors

• Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors

• Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:

  • Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities

  • Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms

  • Cinemas

  • Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres

  • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments

  • Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.

• Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas

• Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres

• Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs

• Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.

• Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, retail and shopping malls, will be maintained at, or increased to, the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.

TRANSLATION FOR RESTAURANTS: No capacity limits on the number of guests in the space HOWEVER still needing 6ft between tables.

Effective March 1, 2022

Ontario intends to take additional steps to ease public health measures if public health and health system indicators continue to improve. This includes lifting capacity limits in all remaining indoor public settings.

Ontario will also lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings at this time. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination. Masking requirements will remain in place at this time, with a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date.

TRANSLATION FOR RESTAURANTS: The key word is "intend", but it sounds like starting March 1st (as long as our local stats don't go too high), we won't have to ask for proof of vaccination for guests to enter our dining space.

HOWEVER- we want to assure everyone that we will still be following all other safety protocols - including masking (for staff coming to your table and for guests not seated), spacing between tables/groups and our air filtration system is on 24-hours a day to help keep your air even safer.

Happy Valentine's Day!