Ontario To Ease COVID Restrictions Starting Thursday Eliminate Vaccine Passport As Of March

During Monday mornings announcement Doug Ford stated that the Ontario Government plans to lift capacity limits in indoor settings beginning this week and will scrap the province’s proof-of-vaccination system on March 1.

File Photo.

Starting Feb. 17, capacity limits will be lifted in all settings where proof of vaccination is required, including restaurants, gyms, and cinemas.

Seating capacity at sports arenas, concert venues, and theatres will be increased to 50 per cent on Thursday and the province will also begin allowing larger social gatherings of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, including grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores, and malls, will be maintained or increased to the number of people who can stay two metres apart.

On March 1, the province said remaining capacity limits will be removed in all indoor settings and the government will no longer require people to show proof of vaccination to enter non-essential businesses. Businesses may still choose to require proof of vaccination.

Masking rules will remain in effect but the province said a specific timeline for lifting masking mandates will be released at a later date.

The province also confirmed that it will be expanding booster dose eligibility to you aged 12 to 17 starting at 8 a.m. on Friday.

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