Ford to make announcement on COVID restrictions, restaurants to reopen Jan. 31

Restaurants in Ontario will reopen to in-person dining at 50 per cent capacity on January 31, multiple sources tell CityNews.

Premier Doug Ford is expected to make the official announcement on Thursday morning.

The premier will be joined by Health Minister Christine Elliott and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore for a news conference from Queen’s Park at 11:30 a.m.

Earlier this week, Ford hinted that an update was forthcoming on potentially loosening COVID-19 restrictions currently in place in Ontario.

The province has been in a modified Step 2 of the “Road to Reopen Plan” since Jan. 5, closing restaurants to in-person dining, shutting gyms and putting a 50 per cent capacity on retail.

The restrictions were scheduled to be in place until at least Jan. 26.

“I’m going to make an announcement by the end of the week, and we will get moving,” Ford told CityNews on Monday when asked if the restrictions will stay in place or lift on Jan. 26.

The Premier reiterated that point on Wednesday, telling CityNews his heart goes out to businesses caught in this whirlwind of reopening and being shuttered.

“It’s going to be a positive announcement we make this week. I am looking forward to it,” Ford said. “No one dislikes these shutdowns more than I do. I despise them. In saying that, health is a priority, and we’ll follow the guidelines of the chief medical officer.”

“We look forward to having a good announcement for restaurants and gyms and other folks that have been closed,” Ford said.

The Premier says his government will continue to offer financial support in dire times, saying nothing makes up for a closed or struggling business.

“Hopefully the patrons will come back and feel confident that they can go to their favourite restaurant or favourite gym or banquet hall. That’s the most important thing. We look forward to making that announcement this week.”

Ontario’s health minister says the province is starting to see “glimmers of hope” in its fight against the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Christine Elliott said new hospitalizations are beginning to slow and are doubling at a much slower rate than earlier this month. Still, the virus’s toll on the healthcare system will likely extend into next month.

Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca urged the Premier to clarify public health measures as soon as possible.

“My strongest possible advice to Doug Ford is [to] be very careful, be very prudent, listen to the science table, listen to the doctors. But giving people clarity about the plan sooner rather than later, even if that means we have to extend the restrictions by a few days, would be better,” Del Duca said.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said the decision to lift restrictions was a government one. Under the current restrictions, hospitals were also directed to pause non-urgent surgeries to stem the wave of infections straining the health system and labour force.

Last week, Moore said that he expects Ontario will have greater clarity on the impact of the restrictions this week. At that point, he said the province would be better able to determine how and when to proceed with lifting restrictions.

The update comes as the province reached a new pandemic high for COVID-19 hospitalizations on Tuesday.

Ontario is reporting 4,132 people in hospital today, with COVID-19 and 589 people in intensive care – a decrease in hospitalizations from 4,183 the previous day, but an increase in ICU patients from 580.

There were 59 new deaths reported Wednesday.

Ontario students were set to be back in classrooms on Monday, but a winter storm delayed the return in many parts of southern Ontario until Wednesday for most.

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With files from Michael Ranger of CityNews and The Canadian Press