What is Open/Closed in Ontario Effective Jan. 31, 2022

Ontario is reopening indoor dining, indoor attractions like museums and galleries with 50 per cent capacity effective January 31st 12:01 a.m. as the province moves into the first step of its reopening plan announced on January 20, 2022.

​​The Ford administration also updated some health measures which were announced on that day and will now allow food and drink services at concert venues indoor sporting events, theatres and cinemas, and other venues, as long as patrons remain seated. Restrictions on hours of operations or on the sale/service of liquor have been lifted for restaurants and other applicable businesses will also be removed.

The province is also removing the requirement of collecting contact information from patrons for contact tracing.

 

​ Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has also lifted the legal requirement of work from home starting January 31st.

Gatherings and events:

Social gatherings:

  • indoor gatherings limited to ten people or fewer
  • outdoor gatherings limited to 25 people or fewer

Organized public events:

  • indoor events limited to 25 people indoors
  • outdoor events have no limits on the number of attendees, but face coverings and/or masks must be worn when distancing (two metres or more) cannot be maintained

Weddings, funerals, religious services, rites and ceremonies if the gathering is held in a building or structure other than a private dwelling.

  • The number of persons occupying any room in the building or structure while attending the gathering must not exceed 50 per cent of the capacity of the particular room.
  • All persons attending the gathering must comply with public health guidance on physical distancing.
  • Outdoor services are limited to the number of people who can maintain two metres distance

Restrictions for businesses:

Retail:

All retail must operate under the following conditions:

  • Open at 50 per cent capacity
  • Capacity limits should be displayed
  • Safety measures for shopping malls, including capacity limits, no loitering, distancing in lineups applicable

Malls:

  • Open
  • No loitering
  • The total number of members of the public who are permitted to be in the indoor areas of the shopping mall at any one time must not exceed the total capacity determined by totalling the number of members of the public who would be permitted to be in every business in the mall operating at 50 per cent capacity.

Photography studios and services:

  • Open
  • Indoor capacity limited to 50%; maximum capacity must be posted

Personal care services:

Personal care services relating to the hair or body, including hair salons and barbershops, manicure and pedicure salons, aesthetician services, piercing services, tanning salons, spas and tattoo studios, may open if they comply with the following conditions:

  • Persons who provide personal care services in the business must wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • The total number of members of the public who are permitted to be in the indoor areas of the establishment at any one time shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity
  • The person responsible for the establishment must post a sign in a conspicuous location visible to the public that states the capacity limits under which the establishment is permitted to operate.
  • Individuals must be actively screened in accordance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health before they enter the establishment.
  • Oxygen bars must be closed.
  • No member of the public may be permitted to enter the premises except by appointment.

Meeting and event spaces:

Includes outdoor wedding receptions at meeting and event spaces

  • Indoor open at 50 per cent capacity seated capacity or 500 people
  • Outdoor open
  • maximum capacity must be posted
  • Proof of vaccination requirements in effect in outdoor meeting and event spaces that have a usual capacity of 20,000 or more persons, with limited exceptions.

Restaurants, bars, food trucks, concession stands and other food or drink establishments:

Restaurants, bars, food trucks, concession stands and other food or drink establishments may open if they comply with the following conditions:

  • The total number of members of the public who are permitted to be in the indoor areas of the establishment at any one time shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity.
  • Maximum capacity must be posted
  • Maximum 10 patrons per table, with limited exceptions (e.g. all members of the same household)
  • Dine-in patrons must be seated at all times, with limited exceptions (e.g. using the washroom, paying)
  • The person responsible for the establishment must actively screen any dine-in patrons in accordance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health before they enter the establishment.
  • No patrons are permitted to dance or sing, including by performing karaoke, within the establishment.

Nightclubs, and other food or drink establishments with dance facilities:

  • Indoor food or drink establishments with dance facilities, including nightclubs, restoclubs and other similar establishments, may open if they operate solely as a food or drink establishment without dancing.
  • Outdoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided, including nightclubs, restoclubs and other similar establishments, may open if they comply with the following conditions during any time when patrons are permitted to make use of the dance facilities:
      • The total number of members of the public permitted to be at the establishment at any one time may not exceed 75 per cent capacity ( determined by taking the total square metres of area accessible to the public, dividing that number by 1.33, and rounding the result down to the nearest whole number) or 5,000 persons, whichever is less.
      • The establishment must be configured so that patrons seated at different tables are separated by, a distance of at least two metres, or plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier.

Strip clubs:

 
  • Permitted to open solely as food or drink establishments under the same conditions

Bathhouses and sex clubs:

  • Closed

Public libraries:

  • Open at 50% capacity, with limited exceptions (e.g. child care, social services)

Indoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas:

  • The total number of members of the public who are permitted to be in the indoor area of a concert venue or theatre at any one time shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity or 500 persons, whichever is less.
  • Patrons must be seated at all times while, watching the concert, performance or film, or consuming food or drink.
  • Patrons must be seated at all times while watching the concert, performance or film.

Zoos, Museums etc:

Zoos, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens, science centres, museums, galleries, aquariums, and similar attractions

  • Open with a capacity limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person in the indoor ticketed area of the attraction and in any event may not exceed 50 per cent capacity.
  • The number of members of the public at an indoor seated event or activity within the attraction at any one time must not exceed 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity for the event or activity or 500 persons, whichever is less.
  • No member of the public may attend a seated event or activity within the attraction or an indoor event or activity within the attraction unless they have made a reservation to do so.
  • Concerts, events, performances or movies must follow same requirements for concert venues, theatres and cinemas

Fairs, rural exhibitions and festivals:

  • Open outdoors
  • Indoors with 50 per cent capacity
  • Capacity limited to 50% of the usual seating capacity for a seated event or activity; maximum capacity of the event or activity must be posted
  • Reservations required to attend a seated event or activity
  • Face coverings required on amusement rides, other than a water ride, with limited exceptions
  • Must have a safety plan with additional requirements
  • Concerts, events, performances or movies must follow same requirements for concert venues, theatres and cinemas

Amusement parks and water parks:

  • Open outdoors; Indoors with 50 per cent capacity
  • Capacity limited to 50% of the usual seating capacity for a seated event or activity; maximum capacity for event or activity must be posted
  • Reservations required to attend a seated event or activity
  • Face coverings required on amusement rides, other than a water ride, with limited exceptions
  • Must have a safety plan with additional requirements
  • Concerts, events, performances or movies must follow requirements for concert venues, theatres and cinemas

Tour and guide services:

  • The number of patrons on a tour must be limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of 2 metres; every person must maintain physical distancing of 2 metres, with limited exceptions
  • Any indoor tour vehicles operated by the attraction must be operated to enable every person on the tour vehicle, including tour guides, to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person, except where necessary, to facilitate payment, or for the purposes of health and safety.

Boat tours:

  • 50% capacity; maximum capacity must be posted
  • Reservations required

Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities:

  • Open with 50 per cent capacity
  • Spectators are limited to 50% capacity (or 50% of usual seating capacity) 0r 500 persons whichever is less.

Outdoor sports and recreational fitness facilities:

  • Open
  • Spectators limited to 50% capacity (or 50% of usual seating capacity)
  • Spectators must wear a mask, with limited exceptions, unless seated only with members of their household and two metres away from every other person.
  • Facilities and leagues must have a safety plan with additional requirements
  • Proof of vaccination requirements in effect indoors for sport and recreational fitness facilities and also outdoor areas where spectators watch events that have a usual capacity of 20,000 or more persons, with limited exceptions.

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Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments:

Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments may open if they comply with the following conditions:

  • The total number of members of the public who are permitted to be indoors in the establishment at any one time shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity.
  • Capacity to be posted.
  • Food and drinks to be sold or served only to patrons remain seated at all times while consuming food or drink.

Personal physical fitness and sports trainers:

  • Open, must be limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person in an indoor space, and may not exceed 50 per cent of the capacity of the indoor space where the services are provided,
  • Must have a safety plan with additional requirements

Community centres and multi-purpose facilities:

  • 50% capacity, with limited exceptions
  • Any sports and recreational fitness activities must be in compliance with requirements for sports and recreational fitness facilities

Horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues:

  • Capacity limited to 50% of the usual seating capacity for a seated event or activity; maximum capacity must be posted
  • Reservations required
  • Spectators must wear a mask, with limited exceptions, unless seated only with members of their household and two metres away from every other person.
  • Must have a safety plan with additional requirements
  • Proof of vaccination requirements in effect in outdoor racing tracks that have a usual capacity of 20,000 or more persons, with limited exceptions

Camps:

  • Day camps and overnight camps for children open

Short-term rentals:

Businesses providing short-term rental accommodation may open if they comply with the following condition:

  • Any indoor fitness centres or other indoor recreational facilities that are part of the operation of these businesses must be in compliance the rules governing those.

Hotels, motels, etc:

Hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences, may open if they comply with the following condition:

  • Any indoor fitness centres or other indoor recreational facilities that are part of the operation of these businesses must be in compliance the rules governing those.

Campgrounds:

  • Open
  • Any indoor fitness centres or other indoor recreational facilities that are part of the operation of these businesses must be in compliance the rules governing those.

Marinas and boating clubs:

  • Open
  • Indoor areas at 50 per cent capacity.

Driving instruction:

  • Every student must be actively screened in accordance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health before they enter the vehicle.
  • Every student and instructor must wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin when in the vehicle.

Real Estate:

  • Open houses allowed provided with capacity limits and masks.

The detailed rules on capacity limits and restrictions effective January 31, 2022 are listed here.

 

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