Outdoor facilities like golf courses and tennis courts in Ontario will be allowed to reopen this Saturday, May 22, 2021.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced this along with a gradual three-phase plan to reopen the province based on hitting vaccination targets.
“As a result of the strict public health measures we introduced to stop the spread of COVID-19 variants, we are seeing a steady improvement in our situation as ICU and hospital numbers begin to stabilize,” said Premier Ford. “While we must remain conscious of the continued threat the virus poses, with millions of Ontarians having received at least their first dose of vaccine we can now begin the process of a slow and cautious re-opening of the province in full consultation with our public health professionals.”
At this time, reopening schools for in-class learning is not a part of the reopening plan. Ford indicated this is because they have not been able to reach a consensus with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario Health Science Table, and teachers' unions.
Outdoor recreational facilities allowed to reopen this Saturday include golf courses and driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, and skate parks. However, organized outdoor sports or recreational classes are not permitted. Outdoor limits for social gatherings and organized public events will be expanded to five people.
In phase one of the provincial reopening plan, outdoor gatherings could increase to 10 people and outdoor dining for up to four people would be allowed. Outdoor religious ceremonies and other ceremonies would also be allowed where physical distancing could be accommodated. It's expected the province will enter Phase 1 around June 14, when around 60 per cent of adults will have been vaccinated. While the province has already reached that target and is expected to reach 65 per cent by the end of the month it takes two to three weeks for the vaccine to take effect.
"You have to allow two to three weeks for both doses to take effect to have the maximum potential, so it doesn't happen instantaneously, so we have to have that time to allow it to take effect. And we are seeing that now even with the first dose going out we are seeing our numbers dropping we are seeing the per cent positivity coming down," said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams.
The province would remain in each phase for at least 21 days.
In Phase 2, more outdoor activities would be allowed with gatherings of up to 25 people, and outdoor sports and leagues can resume. Personal care services where face coverings can be worn would also be allowed to reopen. The province will not go into phase 2 until 70 per cent of adults have received at least one vaccine dose and 20 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
In Phase 3, more indoor activities would be allowed where phase coverings and physical distancing could be maintained. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness, indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls, with capacity limits. This will occur when 70 to 80 per cent of adults have received one dose and at least 25 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
A full breakdown of activities and services allowed in each phase of the roadmap can be found here.