Good News! There’s a Light at the End of the (Endless-Seeming) Tunnel!
There’s been some big news released today by the Ontario government: The latest COVID-19 Lockdown is starting to lift!
During a news conference on Thursday May 20, 2021, Premier Doug Ford, Health Minister Christine Elliott, and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, have revealed a long-awaited plan to get the province back on track and operating normally again.
The announcement reveals a new three-stage re-opening plan, and the abandonment of the previous “five-colour framework” that had been in place.
From the perspective of Ontario citizens, the really big news is that – effective May 22, which coincides with the long weekend – the following changes will be in place:
- Outdoor social gatherings of up to 5 people will be permitted.
- Most outdoor recreational amenities can be re-opened (with the noteworthy exception being
outdoor swimming pools). - Users of outdoor recreational amenities must maintain physical distancing protocols – which means maintaining a 2-metre distance from people who are not members of the same
household.
Unfortunately, those team sports or other activities that are likely to result in people coming within two metres of each other are still not permitted; also, indoor recreational amenities must still remain closed.
The full text of the government’s latest amendments to the existing COVID-19 regulations, which make these new changes possible, can found here:
https://files.ontario.ca/solgen_oreg344-21_amend82-20_2021-05-20.pdf
