Ontario Premier Doug Ford today announced a new set of restrictions in the province after soaring Omicron COVID-19 transmission rampages across the province. Ontario businesses will be put in the crosshairs of restriction or lockdown. The measures are in place to allow the 3rd booster shot to take effect.
“Cases are exploding ‘expidentially’ said Ford
The premier said that they will be extending and advancing business support programs to offset the detrimental effects of the latest lockdown.
The new restrictions will include lowering indoor gathering limits from 10 to 5 for all fully vaccinated people. Further measures will once again target gyms, hair salons, restaurants, weddings and events and a number of other businesses previously targeted for lockdown the past couple of years.
The list of new restrictions will include:
• Indoor dining at restaurants and bars closed.
• Only outdoor dining, takeout, drive through and delivery permitted.
• Social gathering limits reduced to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
• Retail stores, malls and personal care services limited to 50 per cent capacity.
• Saunas, steam rooms, and oxygen bars closed.
• Capacity at weddings, funerals and religious services limited to 50 per cent capacity per room.
• Outdoor services must have two-metre distancing between all attendees.
• Employees must work remotely unless their work requires them to be on site.
• Gyms and other indoor recreational sport facilities closed, except athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and certain professional and elite sports leagues.
• Outdoor facilities are permitted but with a 50 per cent capacity limit on spectators.
• Museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, historic sites, amusement parks, festivals and other attractions closed.
• Outdoor establishments allowed with restrictions and capacity limits.
• Indoor meeting and event spaces closed with limited exceptions, expect those with outdoor spaces, which can operate with restrictions.
New restrictions will come into effect Wednesday, Jan 5. The Ontario government also is now reverting to online learning only in schools for the next two weeks.
New vaccine passport requirements in Ontario as of January 4 2022
As of tomorrow Ontarians would have needed a QR code if they want to eat inside restaurants, go to movie theatres, gyms, concert venues, and other non-essential businesses that require proof of vaccination.
Regardless, Ontarians will need to have enhanced COVID-19 vaccine certificates with a scannable QR code. It can be downloaded by visiting https://covid-19.ontario.ca/get-proof/, or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have a vaccine certificate mailed. To download a proof of vaccination, residents must have a green photo health (OHIP) card, as they will be entering the card information to access your vaccination records.
