Covid-19 Bulletin No.50: Ontario Announces Plan To Gradually Lift COVID-19 Restrictions

Before the weekend, Premier Ford announced the province’s three step plan to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions, beginning January 31^st 2022, and continuing through February and March. On January 31^st 2022, businesses, including gyms and restaurants offering indoor dining will be permitted to reopen again with 50% capacity. The government added that the restrictions will be re-addressed on February 21^st 2022 and provided trends remains stable, we will move into the next step where further restrictions will be eased.

What restrictions will be eased on January 31^st 2022?

• social gatherings will be increased to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors;
• restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities will be able to operate with 50% capacity indoors;
• non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms and swimming pools, can operate with 50% capacity indoors;
• meeting rooms and event spaces can operate with 50% capacity indoors;
• museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions, as well as casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments, can operate at 50% capacity indoors;
• indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies can take place at 50% capacity; and
• sporting events, concert venues and theatres will be able to operate at 50% seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.

The government confirmed that the enhanced proof of vaccination and other requirements will continue to apply in existing settings. As of January 4^th 2022, Ontario requires all residents to use their QR code and the Verify Ontario application in settings where proof of vaccination is required. The QR code can be used digitally or by printing a paper copy. For those individuals who do not have a phone or computer, you can get your QR code at your local library or you can call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have your vaccine certificate mailed to you.

What does this mean for condominiums?

Condominium Boards can hold board meetings face-to-face, indoors, provided the meeting space is operating at no more than 50% capacity. However, given the high transmission rate of the current Omicron variant, it would be prudent for all Board meetings to be conducted virtually. Further, all owners’ meetings must continue to be virtual. While the Ontario government extended the previous deadline of December 31^st 2021 for condominiums to hold virtual meetings and permit electronic voting without a by-law in place, to September 30^th 2022, we encourage all condominiums to be proactive and pass a by-law permitting same.

All facilities for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (i.e., gyms, swimming pools, etc.) are permitted to reopen, provided the condominium is adhering to all limitations and restrictions imposed by the provincial government, including, but not limited to the 50% capacity limit. Condominiums should continue to act cautiously and ensure that all indoor amenity areas are cleaned as frequently as necessary to maintain a sanitary condition.

We remind readers that condominiums continue to have the authority and ability to adopt vaccination policies requiring residents and/or visitors to show proof of vaccination in certain settings, including but not limited to the gym. With the current Omicron variant, confirming vaccination status when accessing non-essential amenities is a reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of those using same.

Moving Forward

On February 21^st 2022, Ontario will increase indoor social gathering limits to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. At this time, the province will also remove capacity limits in indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including restaurants, indoor sports and recreational facilities, and cinemas. Indoor capacity limits of 25% will be put in place for higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs and wedding receptions in event spaces where there is dancing. Other settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements will also be allowed to lift capacity limits. Indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is not required will be limited to the number of people in the space where at least two (2) metres of physical distance can be maintained.

On March 14^th 2022, Ontario will lift all capacity limits in indoor public settings, but proof of vaccination requirements will still be in effect. Social gathering limits will increase to 50 people indoors, with no limits for outdoor gatherings. A date for lifting Ontario's proof of vaccination system and mask mandate has not yet been announced.

Please refer to our previous COVID-19 Bulletins, which contain information on recommended protocols and procedures to be implemented in condominiums.

Please ensure that you speak with legal counsel if your condominium does not already have COVID-19 protocols and policies in place to help manage the risks associated with COVID-19. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact anyone on our team:

All of the information contained in this article is of a general nature for informational purposes only, and is not intended to represent the definitive opinion of the firm of Elia Associates on any particular matter. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate and up-to-date, the reader should not act upon it without obtaining appropriate professional advice and assistance.