Renfrew County and District Health Unit released the following on May 20:
On May 20 the Ontario Government released a three-step Roadmap to Reopen the province safely and gradually based on provincial vaccination rates and other key public health and healthcare measures.
In response to recent improvements in key indicators, Ontario will allow more outdoor recreational amenities to reopen, with restrictions in place, such as the need to maintain physical distance, effective May 22, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. These amenities include but are not limited to:
• Golf courses and driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, and skate parks.
• No outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted.
• Outdoor limits for social gatherings and organized public events will be expanded to five people, which will allow these amenities to be used for up to five people, including with members of different households.
• All other public health and workplace safety measures under the provincewide emergency brake will remain in effect, including virtual learning.
The provincewide emergency brake restrictions remain in effect while the province assesses when it will be moving to Step One of the roadmap with the Stay at Home Order expiring on June 2, 2021. The Roadmap to Reopen outlines three steps to easing public health measures, guided by the following principles:
Step one
Step one is expected to begin the week of June 14, 2021, two weeks after the province is set to hit 60 percent of eligible adults having received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It will focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower and permitting retail with restrictions. This includes:
• outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people;
• outdoor dining with up to four people per table; and
• non-essential retail at 15 percent capacity.
Step two
Step two will expand on outdoor activities and resuming limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. This includes:
• outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people;
• outdoor sports and leagues, personal care services where face coverings can be worn
and with capacity limits; and
• indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 percent capacity.
Step three
Step three will expand access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn. This includes:
• indoor sports and recreational fitness;
• indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls, with
capacity limits.
The province will remain in each step for a minimum of 21 days and will only move forward with each step if the following vaccination targets are met:
• Step 1: 60 percent of adults vaccinated with one dose.
• Step 2: 70 percent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 percent vaccinated with
two doses.
• Step 3: 70 to 80 percent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 percent vaccinated
with two doses.
For full details on the latest announcement, visit: Ontario Releases Three-Step Roadmap to Safely Reopen the Province.
In addition to these new public health measures, it is imperative that everyone do their part to stay home if they are sick, avoid contact with people who are ill, practice physical distancing (2 metres), wear a mask/face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, wash their hands, use the COVID Alert App, and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment tool or COVID-19 school and childcare screening tool daily if they go to work, school or daycare, to monitor for symptoms and proper guidance.
For more information, visit RCDHU’s website at https://www.rcdhu.com/novel-coronaviruscovid-19-2/ or call 613-732-3629 or 1-800-267-1097.
Renfrew County and District Health Unit(2021,May20) Provincial Government Releases a Three-Step Roadmap to Reopening Ontario [media release]
