Province Expects Reopening Plan To Begin Mid June, Outdoor Recreation Can Open This Saturday

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Premier Doug Ford has unveiled a three step roadmap to reopen the province.

Ford said the reopening plan would be “slow and measured” and that it would depend on the number of people vaccinated across Ontario.

“We won’t risk a new surge in cases from new variants that can get into our province,” he said.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says she expects the province to enter Step 1 of the plan around the 14th of June. The province says there will be a minimum of 21 days between steps in the plan.

Here’s a summary of the stages of the plan:

Step 1 – 60% of adults vaccinated with one dose

• Larger outdoor gatherings for up to 10 people
• Outdoor dining for up to 4 people per table
• Essential retail capacity at 25%
• Non-essential retail at 15%
• Outdoor religious services, rites and ceremonies with capacity limited to permit 2 metres physical distancing
• Outdoor sports, training, and personal training for up to 10 people
• Day camps
• Campsites and campgrounds
• Ontario Parks
• Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways
• Outdoor pools, splash pads and wading pools

Step 2 – 70% of adults with one dose, 20% fully vaccinated

• Larger outdoor gatherings for up to 25 people
• Small indoor gatherings for up to 5 people
• Outdoor dining for up to 6 people per table
• Essential retail at 50% capacity
• Non-essential retail capacity at 25%
• Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times
• Outdoor meeting and event spaces
• Outdoor amusement and water parks
• Outdoor boat tour operators
• Outdoor county fairs and rural exhibitions
• Outdoor sports leagues and events
• Outdoor cinemas, performing arts, live music events and attractions

Step 3 – 70-80% of adults with one dose, 25% fully vaccinated

• Larger indoor and outdoor gatherings
• Indoor dining
• Essential and non-essential retail open with limited capacity
• Larger indoor religious services, rites, and ceremony gatherings
• Indoor meeting and event spaces
• Indoor sports and recreational facilities
• Indoor seated events
• Indoor attractions and cultural amenities
• Casino and bingo halls
• Other outdoor activities from Step 2 permitted to operate indoors

In the meantime, Elliott announced effective Saturday May 22nd the province will allow outdoor recreation amenities such as golf courses and tennis courts to reopen. She also said outdoor gatherings limits will be expanded to 5 people.

The province’s plan in legal form for the Saturday May 22nd changes is available here.