On Monday January 3, 2022, the Ontario Government announced it is temporarily moving the province into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen with modifications. The Ontario Government is implementing these modified measures in response to trends showing an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations while also taking the province’s successful vaccination efforts into account. These measures are applicable to food and drink establishments, casinos, bingo halls and other gaming sites, race tracks, and cannabis retail stores. Events held using a Special Occasion Permit for the sale or service of alcohol are also impacted.
The following measures came into effect on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. for at least 21 days (until January 26, 2022):
- Indoor dining at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments is closed. Outdoor dining with restrictions, takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted.
- The sale of alcohol must end at 10 p.m. and no consumption of alcohol on-premise in businesses or settings after 11 p.m., with the exception of delivery and takeout services, grocery and convenience stores and other liquor retail stores
- Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres and cinemas are closed (except for rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted performance, artistic event or performance, with restrictions).
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments are closed.
- Retail settings remain restricted to 50 per cent capacity.
- Indoor horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues are closed. Outdoor establishments are permitted to open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy limited to 50 per cent capacity. Boat tours are permitted at 50 per cent capacity.
- Tour and guide services are closed. Outdoor establishments are permitted to open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy, where applicable, limited to 50 per cent capacity.
- Capacity is limited at indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies to 50 per cent capacity of the particular room. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance. Social gatherings associated with these services must adhere to the social gathering limits of five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
The AGCO has updated its COVID-19 webpage to highlight the public health measures applicable to each of its regulated sectors. Please refer to O. Reg. 263/20 Rules for Areas in Step 2 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA) for detailed requirements.