Most of Ontario enters Step 2 of reopening plan

Public health restrictions on businesses and gatherings are rolling back further in much of Ontario on Wednesday.

The province moved into the second step of its economic reopening plan at 12:01 a.m.

That means hair salons and similar facilities can open with masking rules, and retail stores can have more people inside.

Groups of up to 25 people can gather outdoors and five people can gather indoors.

Outdoor attractions and events like performances can open with capacity rules.

The changes are taking effect a few days ahead of schedule due to strong vaccination rates and other public health indicators.

The Region of Waterloo will be delaying its move to Step 2 for the time-being — based on current data and the prevalence of the Delta variant in the region. The region’s medical officer of health said she expects the region will be able to enter the next step in mid-July.

What is allowed under Step 2

• Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 25 people
• Indoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 5 people
• Essential and other select retail permitted at 50 per cent capacity
• Non-essential retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity
• Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times, and at 25 per cent capacity and other restrictions
• Outdoor dining with up to 6 people per table, with exceptions for larger households and other restrictions
• Indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 25 per cent capacity of the particular room
• Outdoor fitness classes limited to the number of people who can maintain 3 metres of physical distance;
• Outdoor sports without contact or modified to avoid contact, with no specified limit on number of people or teams participating, with restrictions
• Overnight camps for children operating in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
• Outdoor sport facilities with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity
• Outdoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity
• Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways, with spectators permitted at 25 per cent capacity
• Outdoor fairs, rural exhibitions, festivals, permitted at 25 per cent capacity and with other restrictions