A server takes an order inside of a restaurant. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / JackFA server takes an order inside of a restaurant. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / JackF
London

Province to announce eased COVID-19 restrictions

It appears the province will soon announce plans to ease some COVID-19 restrictions put in place earlier this month.

According to reports by the Toronto Star, Premier Doug Ford is expected to announce on Thursday that restaurants will be permitted to resume indoor dining, and gyms, movie theatres and more can reopen at 50 per cent capacity starting January 31.

Ontario has been in a "Modified Step 2" of the province's Roadmap to Reopen plan since January 5, after Omicron variant cases began to surge, filling hospitals with record-breaking numbers of patients. At the time, Ford announced the restrictions would remain in place until January 26, 2022.

On Wednesday, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore announced that the latest COVID-19 wave is reaching its peak.

While hospitalizations remain a concern in the province, health officials say the rate of increase is starting to slow down.

Currently, 4,132 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals across the province. The official death toll now rests at 10,726.

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