TORONTO – The plan to ease the restrictions of Ontario continues quickly, which on Thursday, four days earlier than expected, will move to the next phase while from March 1st the vaccination passport against Covid-19 will be eliminated. 

This was announced by the premier of the province Doug Ford, together with the Minister of Health Christine Elliott and the Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore, making it clear that “the decisions were made on the basis of the recommendations of the health director of the province”. “Given how well Ontario reacted during the Omicron wave, we are able to accelerate our reopening plan,” Ford said. Although we are not yet out of danger, we are moving in the right direction.”

Starting from February 17, the limits of social gathering will increase to 50 people indoors and 100 in open spaces. Capacity limits will be lifted in most indoor public facilities where proof of vaccination is required: this includes restaurants, meeting and event spaces, gaming facilities and “non-spectator areas” of gyms and cinemas.

The capacity of seats in sports venues and concerts, as well as in cinemas, will be 50%. In high-risk environments such as discos, restaurants with dance floors, bathing establishments and sex clubs, the internal capacity is 25%: here proof of vaccination status is required.

For indoor religious services that require a vaccination certificate, capacity limits have been lifted. If proof of vaccination is not required, the property could accommodate any number of people as long as physical distancing can be respected.

For grocery stores, pharmacies and retail stores, capacity limits will be limited to “the number of people who can maintain a physical distance of two meters.”

As for the vaccination requirement, Ford also announced that in all non-essential activities it will be revoked on March 1. On this date, capacity limits will also be lifted in all indoor locations. With about 92% of Ontario residents aged 12 years and older with at least two doses of Covid-19 vaccine and the number of patients in hospital declining, Dr. Kieran Moore, added that the province no longer needs vaccination certificates. “It served its purpose,” Moore said, “I thank all the companies and communities that have used it, as well as all citizens and who have uploaded their QR codes and passports. But in our opinion, given how the epidemic is proceeding, on March 1st it will no longer be necessary”.

However, officials said this will only happen “if public health and health system indicators continue to improve.” “We are able to take this step thanks to each of you, to our nurses, to our doctors, to hospital workers, to every single person who has volunteered in a vaccination clinic and every single person who has played a role in this fight,” Ford said, “and I would like to be very clear, we are moving in this direction because it is safe to do so.” “For now – added Prime Minister Ford – vaccination requirements will remain in place in areas such as long-term care and health care”.

It was not a decision to lift other restrictions, influenced by the protests of truck drivers and no vax groups in Ottawa and Windsor in particular. Ford stressed that the acceleration of the reopening program was carried out “despite” the ongoing protests across the province against vaccination certification and not due to any political pressure to revoke measures to contain Covid-19. “It was going on long before the protests,” he said.

In the capital, the protests have reached their third week, while the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor finally reopened today after a week-long demonstration that disrupted traffic and prevented trade. “We will make sure we get back to normal as quickly as possible. Again, despite the occupations, we will continue to ensure that we have here in Ontario a safe environment for companies to do business and conduct their own business,” Ford said.

The obligation to wear a mask will remain in force and companies, if they wish, can choose to continue to request the certificate proving vaccination. In addition, starting friday, children between the ages of 12 and 17 will be able to benefit from the booster doses of the Covid vaccine.