Stage 3 promises more freedoms, but still not a return to ‘normal’
WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Region is settling into the second stage of the provincial reopening plan, and the increased freedoms likely has many residents thinking about what’s to come in the next stage.
But a University of Waterloo public health expert warns that people need to be careful to not jeopardize the chances of graduating to Stage 3, and it still will not be a full return to life before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s not going to be exactly like back to normal. You’ll still have some restrictions,” said Prof. Zahid Butt, from the School of Public Health and Health Systems. “You would still have to follow public health guidelines.”
Stage 3, as outlined by the province, will open up all workplaces with safety measures in place. Restrictions on recreation spaces and public gatherings will be relaxed, likely with a different limit on the number of people who can gather inside and outside.
“But they will not allow large public gatherings such as concerts,” Butt said.
Stage 3 is not set in stone and a review of how well Stage 2 is going will help determine what else will open. The level of new cases or hospitalizations will also be a factor.
“Then they’ll make a decision about proceeding to Stage 3,” Butt said.
If there’s a surge, then not only might the region not move onto the next stage, but it could also revert to Stage 1. That’s where a few places in Ontario are still stuck, and Butt said the province may decide to wait for those to get to the second before considering allowing others to move forward.
The region’s acting associate medical officer of health, Dr. Julie Emili, stressed at Friday’s briefing the importance of following recommendations to reduce the virus’ spread because that’s what is keeping numbers down now. That includes individuals, and businesses ensuring reopening is safe.
“The community plays a role in that,” Emili said. “The actions we take today determine where we are next week and the week after.”
Waterloo Region’s chief administrative officer Mike Murray said it’s the province that sets guidelines about what the stages look like, and when a municipality can move ahead.
“It’s the province that opened the door to Stage 2,” Murray said. “We will absolutely follow the lead of the province.”
He said that before any place can move to the third stage, the province will also need to rescind or amend emergency orders that limit certain things, such as what services libraries and museums can provide. When will the region get back to normal?
Butt said even when all the restrictions are lifted, some people may want to wait for a vaccine before they feel comfortable resuming life as it was before.
So far, the only country that’s returned to normal is New Zealand, although it still hasn’t reopened its borders and Butt expects that international travel restrictions will linger in Canada for a while too.
Hotspots remain in Canada, while other areas are seeing low case numbers. Saskatchewan is onto Stage 3, while Butt said “Ontario will have to decide on its own.”
Just being in Stage 2 may help ease some “pandemic fatigue” and social isolation people have been feeling, Butt said.
“Hopefully that will contribute to more of a feeling of a sense of belonging and connection than before.”