The Ontario government has announced parts of the province will be able to move into Stage 3 of reopening on Friday. These regions are:
Algoma Public Health
Brant County Health Unit
Chatham-Kent Public Health
Eastern Ontario Health Unit
Grey Bruce Health Unit
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Huron Perth Public Health
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
Middlesex-London Health Unit
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
Northwestern Health Unit
Ottawa Public Health
Peterborough Public Health
Porcupine Health Unit
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
Renfrew County and District Health Unit
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
Southwestern Public Health
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Timiskaming Health Unit
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
This excludes:
Toronto Public Health
York Region Public Health
Peel Public Health
Hamilton Public Health Services
Halton Region Public Health
Durham Region Health Department
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Lambton Public Health
Niagara Region Public Health
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said provincial officials will provide updates every Monday on where these remaining regions stand in terms of being able to move from Stage 2 to Stage 3 of reopening.
Some businesses and services that will be able to resume operations in some areas on Friday include:
Dine-in services at restaurants, bars
Gyms and fitness centres
Additional personal care services (ex. facials, ear piercing, eyebrow grooming and eyelash extensions)
Live shows, performing arts, movie theatres, live sporting events (with gathering limits)
Casinos (with gathering limits)
Playgrounds
Tour and guide services
Outdoor gathering limits will be increased to 100 people and indoor gathering will be allowed with up to 50 people present, but physical distancing practices will still be in place. The social circle limit of 10 people will remain.
Beginning on Jul. 27, child care centres can operate with cohorts of 15 children, which the province indicates brings the child care sector to about 90 per cent of its pre-COVID-19 operating capacity.
Minister of Health Christine Elliott indicated it is expected that more Stage 3 measures will remain for some time, possibly until there is a vaccine available, but if the province is able to keep case numbers down with no new outbreaks, provincial officials may allow for gradually expanding things like the size of gatherings.
Businesses and services that are still not considered safe for Stage 3 of reopening includes:
Amusement parks and water parks
Buffet-style food services
Dancing at restaurants and bars, other than by performers hired by the establishment following specific requirements
Overnight stays at camps for children
Private karaoke rooms
Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports
Saunas, steam rooms, bath houses and oxygen bars
Table games at casinos and gaming establishments