Ontario is accelerating its re-opening timeline and plans to drop the province’s proof of vaccination system by March 1.
Premier Doug Ford announced this morning additional public health measures will ease on Thursday, Feb. 17, including the end of capacity limits at all indoor settings except large event venues and other “high-risk” settings such as nightclubs — which will be capped at 50 and 25 per cent capacity respectively.
Thursday, social gathering limits will increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
On March 1, Ontario will lift all remaining capacity limits for all settings as well as its proof of vaccination system. However, a statement from the province advises businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require vaccination proof.
“We will need to keep masking in place for just a little bit longer,” Ford says.
The Premier did not provide any timeline for when the province may look to end its mask mandate at indoor settings. A statement from the province says “a specific timeline to lift this measure to be communicated at a later date.”
You can listen to Ford’s announcement from Queen’s Park this morning below.