To further strengthen its response to Omicron and reduce opportunities for close contact as the province gets as many vaccines into arms as possible, Ontario is introducing a 50 per cent capacity limit in the following indoor public settings:
- Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments and strip clubs;
- Personal care services;
- Personal physical fitness trainers;
- Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies);
- Shopping malls;
- Non-spectator areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g. gyms);
- Indoor recreational amenities;
- Indoor clubhouses at outdoor recreational amenities;
- Tour and guide services;
- Photography studios and services;
- Marinas and boating clubs;
- Facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities;
- Entertainment facilities such as concert venues, theatres and cinemas;
- Racing venues;
- Meeting and event spaces;
- Studio audiences in commercial film and television production;
- Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions;
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; and
- Fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals.
These limits do not apply to any portion of a business or place that is being used for a wedding, a funeral or a religious service, rite, or ceremony. Businesses or facilities will also need to post a sign stating the capacity limits that are permitted in the establishment.
To further reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, additional protective measures are also being applied:
- The number of patrons permitted to sit at a table in a restaurant, bar and other food or drink establishment and meeting and event space will be limited to 10 people and patrons will be required to remain seated.
- Patrons must remain seated at concerts venues, theatres and cinemas.
- Bars and restaurants and meeting and event spaces and strip clubs that serve food and drink like a restaurant will be required to close by 11 p.m. Take out and delivery will be permitted beyond 11 p.m.
- Singing and dancing in restaurants and bars and other select settings will not be allowed except for workers or performers.
- Food and/or drink services will be prohibited at indoor sporting events; concert venues, theatres and cinemas; casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments; and horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues. Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments including in these establishment can operate subject to the rules applicable to these settings (e.g., 50% capacity).
- The sale of alcohol will be restricted after 10 p.m. and consumption of alcohol in businesses or settings after 11 p.m.
In addition, to mitigate COVID-19 transmission that can occur at informal social gatherings, the province is also reducing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
These restrictions will come into effect on 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, December 19, 2021.
Read the full Media Release here
Thank you, and have a great business day!
Niagara Board of Trade & Commerce
