THUNDER BAY - Life in many parts of the province, including Thunder Bay, will start to look a little more normal as the province enters stage two of its reopening framework using a regional approach.
“These are important steps at getting life back to normal, but we also have to get people back to work,” said Premier Doug Ford during his daily media briefing on Monday.
“We need to get the economy going and to do this as quickly as possible. We are moving forward with a regional approach and we are moving forward with an approach that lets us make decisions for specific parts of Ontario based on what is happening on the ground.”
As of Friday June 12 at 12:01 a.m., 24 regional health units across the province will enter stage two of reopening. This will include the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and the Northwestern Ontario Health Unit.
The limit on social gatherings will be increased from five people to 10 and more businesses and services will be permitted to reopen.
Businesses and services permitted to reopen include outdoor dine-in services at restaurants and bars, personal care services such as barber shops, hair salons, and tattoo parlours, shopping malls, outdoor splash pads and swimming pools, beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks, camping at private campgrounds, outdoor only recreational facilities for sports training, film and television production, and weddings and funeral services with limits on social gatherings to 10 people.
“We will continue to keep a close eye on regions that cannot open this Friday,” Ford said. “We need a little e more time.”
Further details will be released in the coming days of reopening childcare, summer camps, training centres, and public transit.
Places of worship will also be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and attendance limited to no more than 30 per cent of the building capacity to ensure the safety of worshippers.
Minister of Health Christine Elliott said the province is in this position because testing has been scaled up and hospitals have the capacity to deal with a spike in cases or outbreaks.
“As we know, different regions on Ontario have experienced COVID-19 differently,” Elliott said. “In response, we are taking a regional approach that recognizes in many areas of the province it is safe to ease restrictions and open more businesses. In some areas there have been fewer or no new viruses in recent days or weeks.”
All businesses must follow workplace guidelines, including continue to practice physical distancing to protect staff and customers.
All residents of Ontario are reminded to continue to practice all public health guidelines.
