■ What reopening plan means for Toronto residents,
Despite warm weather, pools and splash pads to stay closed till Stage 1
Outdoor sports and recreational amenities can resume for the long weekend in Toronto and beyond, Premier Doug Ford announced on Thursday.
The province also announced a three-step plan for further reopening, based on what percentage of people are vaccinated in the province, regardless of what the vaccination rate is in Toronto.
Here’s what that means for Toronto residents. Previously closed outdoor facilities permitted as of this Saturday include: baseball diamonds and batting cages; basketball courts; bike trails, BMX and skate parks; boat launches and marinas; golf courses and Frisbee golf; horse riding; lawn bowling; playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment; soccer, football and other sports fields; tennis and table tennis.
No team sports will be permitted and people must still distance two metres from those not in their households. Despite the hot weather, pools and splash pads will remain closed.
Outdoor gatherings, in line with physical distancing requirements, will be allowed with up to five people per group.
Future plans for reopening are subject to a new three-step plan based on the province-wide vaccination rate. Toronto’s vaccination level is currently ahead of the provincial targets.
Provincial officials predicted Thursday that the first stage could begin as soon as June 14. From there, Ontario will spend a minimum 21 days in each stage before moving on to the next, regardless of vaccination efforts.
Here is what those steps look like:
Stage 1: 60 per cent of all adults vaccinated with one dose
á Construction: All restrictions lifted á Gatherings: Outdoor limits increase up to 10 people. Indoor gatherings with other households not permitted.
á Meeting and event spaces:
Closed
á Performing arts, cinemas and other attractions: Drivein cinemas open, outdoor zoos and museums open, outdoor botanical gardens open. Other attractions closed
á Personal care services:
Closed á Public libraries: Curbside services only, except for computer and printer services
á Recreation, sports and fitness: Day camps open. Campsites and Ontario Parks open. Horse racing and motor speedways open with no spectators. Outdoor pools and splash pads open. Outdoor team sports allowed with up to 10 people and three metres of physical distancing. Outdoor fitness classes and personal training allowed for up to 10 people and three metres of physical distancing. Indoor amenities closed except for high-performance athletes and those requiring physical therapy. Overnight camps remain closed. á Religious services and ceremonies: Outdoor ceremonies like funerals and weddings can take place with any number where physical distancing can be maintained. This does not apply to receptions. á Restaurants: Outdoor dining resumes with maximum groups of four per table. á Retail: Essential retail (i.e., groceries, pharmacy) continues at 25 per cent capacity. Nonessential retail can open for instore shopping with capacity of 15 per cent. Stores in malls without street-facing entrances remain closed. á Short-term rentals: Booking of cabins, cottages and nonhotel or resort spaces resumes for those not in need of housing. á TV/Film production: Limit of 50 performers on set and distance requirements in place for crew. No studio audience.
Stage 2: 70 per cent of adults with one dose, 20 per cent fully vaccinated á Gatherings: Outdoor gathering limits increase up to 25 people. Indoor gatherings with nonhousehold members permitted with up to five people.
á Meeting and event spaces:
Outdoor spaces open at 25 per cent capacity. Indoor spaces remain closed except for viewings for future events.
á Performing arts, cinemas and other attractions: Outdoor performing arts, including live music, resumes. Outdoor cinemas open with capacity restrictions. Outdoor amusement and water parks open with reduced capacity. Outdoor fairs open with reduced capacity. Casinos and bingo halls remain closed.
á Personal care services:
Open at 25 per cent capacity to a maximum of five people for those with appointments. Masks must be worn continuously and any services requiring mask removal are not permitted. á Public libraries: Open for indoor services with 25 per cent capacity.
á Recreation, sports and fitness: Outdoor sports leagues resume. Outdoor fitness class and personal training expands to 25 people with three metres of physical distancing. Overnight camps open. Horse racing and motor speedways allow spectators with restrictions.
á Religious services and ceremonies: Indoor services, like weddings and funerals, expand capacity to 15 per cent. á Restaurants: Outdoor dining capacity expands to allow six people per table and outdoor karaoke with restrictions. á Retail: Essential retail capacity expands to 50 per cent. Nonessential retail capacity expands to 25 per cent. No direction provided about malls. á TV/Film production: No restrictions on the number of people on set.
Stage 3: 70-80 per cent of adults with one dose, 25 per cent fully vaccinated á Gatherings: Larger indoor and outdoor gatherings permitted with unspecified capacity restrictions.
á Meeting and event spaces: Indoor spaces reopen with some unspecified capacity restrictions.
á Performing arts, cinemas and other attractions: Indoor events allowed with unspecified capacity restrictions. Casinos and bingo halls open. Museums and art galleries open. á Personal care services: Only capacity limits are to allow physical distancing. á Public libraries: Further opened with unspecified capacity restrictions.
á Recreation, sports and fitness: Indoor fitness and sports resume with some unspecified capacity restrictions.
á Religious services and ceremonies: Larger indoor services permitted with unspecified capacity. á Restaurants: Indoor dining permitted with unspecified capacity restrictions. Outdoor dining limited only by physical distancing requirements. Buffets open. á Retail: All retail limited to allow for physical distancing. á TV/Film production: Studio audiences allowed with unspecified capacity restrictions.