With the province accelerating into Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopening five days early, the local medical officer of health is recommending close monitoring for potential speed bumps.
Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, said earlier this week he hopes the province does not move up the Step 3 start date and instead waits the full three weeks to better gauge the spread of the virus and the impacts of Step 2 precautions.
Today, he reaffirmed his advice for alertness and a focus on the road ahead.
"I would say this is sooner than I have advised and thus there would be some risk with this," write Gardner in an email today.
Gardner is the current chair of the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health.
"I understand from communication from the chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, that the decision has been made in part based on the declining transmission for the province overall, and increasing vaccination coverage, and projections that suggest the number of cases will continue to decline," said Gardner.
There are, however, variables to consider.
Specifically, the delta variant.
"The increased transmissibility of the delta variant is of concern," said Gardner. "We will need people to continue abiding by the public health measures in place and to receive their first and second dose of vaccine as soon as they can."
He said monitoring of transmission trends will be important as the province continues lifting restrictions.
Step 3, which begins July 16, allows for, but isn't limited to:
- Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 100 people with limited exceptions;
- Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people;
- Indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted with physical distancing;
- Indoor dining permitted with no limits on the number of patrons per table with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect;
- Indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to open subject to a maximum 50 per cent capacity of the indoor space. Capacity for indoor spectators is 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is less. Capacity for outdoor spectators is 75 per cent of the usual seating capacity or 15,000 people, whichever is less;
- Indoor meeting and event spaces permitted to operate with physical distancing and other restrictions still in effect and capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, (whichever is less);
- Essential and non-essential retail with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
- Personal care services, including services requiring the removal of a face covering, with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres;
- Museums, galleries, historic sites, aquariums, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals, with capacity limited to not exceed 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors;
- Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres permitted to operate at:
- up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events (whichever is less)
- up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events (whichever is less); and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating (whichever is less).
- Real estate open houses with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres; and
- Indoor food or drink establishments where dance facilities are provided, including nightclubs and restobars, permitted up to 25 per cent capacity or up to a maximum limit of 250 people (whichever is less).
-With files from Maija Hoggett
