Operational Restrictions
Ontario’s Vaccination Policy:
Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations under
the Reopening Ontario Act
This guidance document provides information for specified businesses or organizations as per section 2.1 of Schedule 1 to O. Reg. 364/20: Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step (O. Reg. 364/20) under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA) to require each patron who enters an area of the premises to provide, at the point of entry, proof of identification and proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The specified businesses or organizations must comply with this guidance document, pursuant to section 2.1(4) of Schedule 1 of O. Reg. 364/20
-> Click here to view the Policy
Questions and Answers on Ontario’s Vaccination Policy
The information in this Questions and Answers document is intended to help clarify requirements under Ontario Regulation 364/20 (under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020) related to proof of vaccination against COVID-19, as well as the Ministry of Health’s Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations under the Reopening Ontario Act (the “Ministry’s Guidance”) .
->Click here to read the Q&A Document
City of Brampton prepares to temporarily return to a modified Step Two of the Province’s Roadmap to Reopen on January 5, 2022
As of January 5, the following measures will be in place under the modified Step Two of the Province’s Roadmap to Reopen:
- Social gatherings permitted to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
- Organized public events permitted to five people indoors.
- Businesses and organizations required to ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
- Indoor weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites and ceremonies limited to 50 per cent capacity of the particular room. Outdoor services are limited to the number of people that can maintain 2 metres of physical distance. Social gatherings associated with these services must adhere to the social gathering limits.
- Retail settings, including shopping malls, permitted at 50 per cent capacity. Physical distancing will be required in line-ups, loitering will not be permitted and food courts will be required to close. Personal care services permitted at 50 per cent capacity. Saunas, steam rooms, and oxygen bars closed.
- Closing indoor dining at restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments. Outdoor dining with restrictions, takeout, drive through and delivery is permitted.
- Indoor meeting and event spaces will close with limited exceptions; outdoor spaces to remain open with restrictions.
- Public libraries limited to 50 per cent capacity.
- Restricting the sale of alcohol after 10 pm and the consumption of alcohol on-premise in businesses or settings after 11 pm. Delivery and takeout, grocery/convenience stores and other liquor stores exempted.
- Closing indoor concert venues, theatres, and cinemas.
- Rehearsals and recorded performances permitted with restrictions.
- Closing museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks and waterparks, tour and guide services and fairs, rural exhibitions, and festivals. Outdoor establishments permitted to open with restrictions and with spectator occupancy, where applicable, limited to 50 per cent capacity.
- Closing indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities including gyms, except for athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and select professional and elite amateur sport leagues. Outdoor facilities are permitted to operate but with the number of spectators not to exceed 50 per cent occupancy and other requirements.
Province’s business supports
The Province is introducing the new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program to support businesses that are most impacted by public health measures in response to the Omicron variant. Eligible businesses that are required to close or reduce capacity will receive rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to these measures. They are also providing additional support to help improve cash flows for Ontario businesses by providing a six-month interest- and penalty-free period to make payments for most provincially administered taxes. For more information on supports available for businesses, visit the Province’s website.
TORONTO — In response to recent trends that show an alarming increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is temporarily moving the province into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen with modifications that take into account the province’s successful vaccination efforts. These time-limited measures will help blunt transmission and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed as the province continues to accelerate its booster dose rollout. As part of the province’s response to the Omicron variant, starting January 5, students will pivot to remote learning with free emergency child care planned for school-aged children of health care and other eligible frontline workers.
Read the Province’s News Release here.
More information and full list can be found by clicking here.
The Province’s Roadmap to Reopen is a three-step plan to cautiously reopen the province and gradually lift public health measures based on the provincewide vaccination rate and improvements in key public health and health care indicators.
Calculating capacity limits
The Retail Council of Canada has developed a tool to help you calculate your store capacity during the COVID-19 restrictions. Access the store capacity calculator.
More measures and details are available: Province of Ontario.