Need a haircut? Ontario moving to Step 2 June 30, what it means for the London region
London and area businesses will get a couple extra days of looser restrictions as Ontario announced it will be moving to Step 2 of its reopening plan a little earlier than expected.
Originally slated for July 2, the move into Step 2 will now take place on June 30, two days earlier.
In order to move into Step 2 the province set a vaccination target of 70 per cent of adults with one dose and 20 per cent fully vaccinated.
Now that the province will be moving into Step 2 by Wednesday what does that mean for area businesses and the public in general?
One of the major changes will be that personal care services will once again be allowed to reopen, a sector that has experienced some of the toughest and longest restrictions.
Stores in malls will once again open under capacity restrictions.
Changes under Step 2 of the Reopening Roadmap
- Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events for up to 25 people, up from 10 under Step 1
- Indoor social gatherings and organized public events for up to five people
- Outdoor dining for up to six people per table
- Essential and other select retail permitted at 50 per cent capacity
- Non-essential retail capacity at 25 per cent
- Stores in shopping malls open, with restrictions
- Larger indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres
- Overnight camps
- Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor fitness classes are capped at the number of people who can maintain 3 metres of distance
- Public libraries permitted at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor meeting and event spaces at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor amusement and water parks at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor sports games, leagues and events at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor cinemas, performing arts, live music events and attractions at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways at 25 per cent capacity
In order to move into Step 3 Ontario needs to have 70-80 per cent of adults with one dose and 25 per cent fully vaccinated, a threshold that has already been passed.
It is unclear at this time if Ontario will consider moving into Step 3 earlier than the 21 days required between each step.
For more information on Ontario Roadmap to Reopening follow this link.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Severe thunderstorms, 15 cm of snow: Canadian weather forecast highlights
Well into spring, some parts of Canada could experience a wintry comeback, while other areas are bracing for severe thunderstorms, according to local forecasts.
Pope apologizes after using 'homophobic terms'
Pope Francis apologized Tuesday after he was quoted using a vulgar term about gay men to reaffirm the Catholic Church's ban on gay priests.
At least 60 reports of Lyme disease so far as Ontario enters tick season
Peak tick season is only just beginning but reports of bites – and tick-borne illnesses – are already higher than normal in Ontario.
Spy watchdog's foreign interference review finds 'unacceptable gaps' in accountability
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Public Safety Canada lacked a system for tracking who received and read specific intelligence on foreign interference, creating 'unacceptable gaps in accountability,' the national spy watchdog has found.
House from 'Home Alone' hits the market for US$5.25 million
Kevin McCallister’s childhood home has hit the market for US$5.25 million. At just over 9,000 square feet, the house from the 'Home Alone' movie was last sold in 2012 for $1,585,000.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
Tornado touches down west of the Island of Montreal
Emergency services in the town of Rigaud, Que. are investigating after a tornado touched down shortly after 5:30 p.m.
Richard Dreyfuss' comments about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity lead venue to apologize
The actor Richard Dreyfuss showed up in a dress at a 'Jaws'-themed event in Massachusetts, where the blockbuster 1975 movie he starred in was shot, and then proceeded to make demeaning remarks about women, LGBTQ2S+ people and diversity.
More Canadians only making minimum payment on credit cards: TransUnion
Some Canadians are seeing their credit card balances grow as the cost-of-living crisis and higher interest rates eat into household budgets, a new report shows.