Canada: Ontario's reopening phase 2 to allow gathering of upto ten people, resumption of more business activities
Ottawa/IBNS: The second phase of reopening in Canada's Ontario will allow gathering of up to ten people besides resumption of more business activities later this week.
The details of the second phase of reopening was provided by Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday.
Businesses and services permitted to reopen in the second stage of reopening include outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars, including patios, curbside, parking lots and adjacent properties; select personal care services including tattoo parlours, barbershops, hair salons and beauty salons; shopping malls including food services reopening for take-out and outdoor dining only; tour and guide services, such as bike and walking, bus and boat tours, as well as tasting and tours for wineries, breweries and distilleries.
The other permitted services include water recreational facilities such as outdoor splash pads and wading pools, and all swimming pools; beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks; camping at private campgrounds; outdoor-only recreational facilities and training for outdoor team sports, with limits to enable physical distancing; drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural appreciation, such as art installations; film and television production activities, with limits to enable physical distancing; and weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people.
"Entering Stage 2 means parts of the province will see more people back on the job... I urge everyone to exercise caution and continue to follow public health advice as we are not out of the woods yet," said Ford.
Based on key public health indicators such as lower rates of transmission, increased hospital capacity, and progress made in testing, ease of restrictions is being allowed only in places considered to be safe.
Out of Ontario's 34 public health units, twenty-four will be allowed to move into Phase 2.
The remaining 10 public health units, concentrated mainly in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and near the U.S.-Canada border, will be required to wait until they reach a consistent decline in the registration of their daily new cases.
Ford has also allowed the reopening of religious places but with a 30 percent capacity limit.
The changes will be effective on Friday.
The province said it will soon release more details on child care; summer camps; post-secondary education pilots to help people graduate; training centers and public transit.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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