🕒 4. 5 min read

The announcement came slightly earlier than expected. On Friday July 9, Premier Doug Ford said, “With key public health and health care indicators continuing to improve and the provincewide vaccination rate surpassing the targets outlined in the province’s Roadmap to Reopen, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health the Ontario government is moving the province into Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021.”

The move is five days earlier than the projected date of Wednesday July 21.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of our frontline heroes, and the ongoing commitment of Ontarians to get vaccinated, we have surpassed the targets we set in order to enter Step Three of our Roadmap,” Ford said. “While this is welcome news for everyone who wants a return to normal, we will not slow down our efforts to fully vaccinate everyone who wants to be and put this pandemic behind us once and for all.”

Please be seated

Step 3 of the economic reopening plan includes the return of indoor dining, with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect. On July 16, indoor dining will have been closed for 411 days - the longest restaurant lockdown in the world - after bars and restaurants were ordered to close unless offering takeout or delivery on March 17, 2020.

Patio seating will also increase, following the same guidelines as indoor dining.

The return of buffets, nightclubs and amusement parks

As reported earlier this week, buffets and karaoke are also back on.

Nightclubs, “restobars,” and other  “indoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided,” are also making a comeback, with up to 25 per cent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people, whichever is less. Outdoor capacity limited to 75% or 5,000 people (whichever is less) and other restrictions

Amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, and festivals, are permitted with capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors. This news comes in too late for foodie events such as the CNE, not set to return until August 19, 2022, and Canada’s largest street festival, Taste of the Danforth.

Mask on

Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health said “the pandemic is not over and we must all remain vigilant and continue following the measures and advice in place, as the Delta variant continues to pose a threat to public health.”

Face coverings in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements remain in place throughout Step Three, and required in some outdoor public settings.

The province will remain in Step Three of the Roadmap for at least 21 days and until 80 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 75 per cent have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70 per cent of their eligible population aged 12 and over fully vaccinated.

Ontario entered Step 1 on June 11, 2021 and Step 2 on June 30, 2021.

Stay tuned for updates.

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