FORE! ONTARIO’S 3-STEP RE-OPENING PLAN KICKS OFF SATURDAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

TORONTO — It’s open season on golf courses and at skateboard parks and for outdoor gatherings of five people Saturday of this long weekend in Ontario.

And on June 14 things could open up more if vaccines bring COVID cases down.

It’s all part of their three-step Roadmap to Reopen plan as the current stay-at-home order will end June 2.

But it looks like schools won’t open their doors in June for in-class learning.

Citing the success of vaccines and fewer cases, Premier Doug Ford announced this afternoon that effective May 22 the province will reopen outdoor recreational amenities with restrictions in place, such as the need to maintain physical distancing.

That includes, but is not limited to golf courses and driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts and skate parks, he said in a release.

But no outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted.

As well, outdoor limits for social gatherings and organized public events will be expanded to five people, including with members of different households.

All other public health and workplace safety measures will remain in effect.

At this time, publicly-funded and private elementary and secondary schools in the province will continue to operate under teacher-led remote learning.

Data will be assessed on an ongoing basis and medical experts, including the chief medical officer of health, and other health officials will be consulted to determine if it may be safe to resume in-person learning.

According to the government release, in consultation with Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams, it has released its Roadmap to Reopen, a three-step plan to “safely and cautiously” reopen the province and gradually lift public health measures based on the provincewide vaccination rate and improvements in key public health and health care indicators. In response to recent improvements to these indicators, Ontario will allow more outdoor recreational amenities to reopen, with restrictions in place, effective May 22, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.

Its Roadmap to Reopen sets out three steps to ease public health measures, guided by the following principles:

  • Step One — An initial focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower, and permitting retail with restrictions. This includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining with up to four people per table and non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity.
  • Step Two — Further expanding outdoor activities and resuming limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. This includes outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people, outdoor sports and leagues, personal care services where face coverings can be worn and with capacity limits, as well as indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 per cent capacity.
  • Step Three — Expanding access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness; indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls, with capacity limits.

Ontario says it will remain in each step for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators.

If at the end of the 21 days, the following vaccination thresholds have been met, along with positive trends in other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move to the next step:

  • Step 1: 60 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose.
  • Step 2: 70 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses.
  • Step 3: 70 to 80 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent vaccinated with two doses.

The government expects to enter Step One of the Roadmap the week of June 14. The province will confirm closer to the expected start of Step One.

“While we know that now is not yet the moment to reopen, Ontarians deserve to know the path forward on what we will carefully reopen and when, starting with the settings we know are safest,” said Minister of Health Christine Elliott.

“Brighter days are ahead and we believe this Roadmap represents a path out of the pandemic and will encourage Ontarians to get vaccinated and to continue following public health advice.”

She said the provincewide emergency brake restrictions remain in effect while the province assesses when it will be moving to Step One of the roadmap with the stay at home order expiring on June 2.

During this time, the government will continue to work with stakeholders on reopening plans to ensure full awareness of when and how they can begin to safely reopen, she said.

Williams offered a note of caution saying: “We must remain vigilant however, as the fight against COVID-19 is not over and our case counts, ICU capacity and hospitalizations are still concerning. It remains critical that all Ontarians continue to follow all public health and workplace safety measures currently in place to help further reduce transmission and save lives.”

The province says will continue to work with the Public Health Measures Table, Public Health Ontario, and other public health and scientific experts to determine public health guidance for Ontarians to follow, including protocols for masking and outdoor/indoor gatherings, after being fully vaccinated.

BACKGROUND:

  • Based on the latest government modelling data COVID-19 case, positivity and hospitalization rates are decreasing, and control of the pandemic is improving. Maintaining the current rate of vaccination and public health and workplace safety measures will help to ensure Ontario starts to safely and gradually reopen.
  • Ontario has administered first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to over 58.5 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and over. More than two million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ontario since the start of May, and the province remains on track to have administered first doses to 65 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and over by the end of May.
  • The Stay-at-Home order currently in effect requires everyone to remain at home except for specified purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services (including getting vaccinated), for outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely.
  • As of May 18, Ontarians aged 18 and over in 2021 across Ontario are eligible to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the provincial booking system and call centre, or directly through public health units that use their own booking system.
  • Visit Ontario’s website to find out if you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at this time.
  • Eligible groups can use Ontario’s vaccine booking system to find out how to schedule an appointment, or can call the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line number at 1-833-943-3900.
  • For general inquiries, individuals can call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line number at 1-888-999-6488 or TTY service is also available by calling 1-866-797-0007.
  • Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine web page to view the latest provincial data and information on COVID-19 vaccines.
  • For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only).
Skateboard parks are among many outdoor amenities that will re-open Saturday according to the province.

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