Capacity limits and vaccine passport end in Ontario today

Starting today, capacity limits at all indoor public settings and social gathering limits are lifted. Also, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required at most Ontario restaurants, movie theatres, gyms, nightclubs and more.

The vaccine passport policy has been in place since late September 2021 and changed to a QR code system in January 2022.

Some businesses say they will maintain their vaccination requirements for now.

Settings where capacity had been limited to the number of people who could maintain two metres of distance can now eliminate that requirement. This includes weddings and funerals, retail shops, pharmacies and grocery stores.

Premier Doug Ford said mask mandates will likely remain in place for a at least a couple more weeks until he gets approval from Canada’s top doctor.

Each part of the three-step plan to reopening was supposed to happen 21 days between each step, but Ford announced an expedited timeline last month which sees almost all restrictions lifted two weeks earlier than anticipated.

COVID-19 hospitalizations and positivity rates have recently fallen from the January peak of the Omicron wave, but wastewater data suggests cases may be starting to rise again.