MPP Goldie Ghamari: From Queen’s Park

4 min read June 5, 2021

By Goldie Ghamari

Carleton MPP

Ontario releases three-step roadmap to safely reopen

The health and well-being of the residents of Carleton, Ottawa & Ontario is my top priority. Please visit my website for the latest information & updates from the Government of Ontario, as well as information regarding upcoming virtual town hall meetings & public consultations.

Recent updates include:

Ontario keeps seniors in long-term care homes cool this summer;
Ontario investing in domestic medical technology manufacturing to ensure future preparedness;
Ontario invests in training for medical innovators;
Ontario expands investment in the Franco-Ontarian community and it’s economic development; and
Ontario supporting screen-based industries during COVID-19

NEWS FROM QUEEN’S PARK

On May 20^th, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, released its Roadmap to Reopen. The Roadmap to Reopen, which is expected to start the week of June 14, is a three-step plan to safely and cautiously reopen the province and gradually lift public health measures based on the provincewide vaccination rates and improvements in key public health and health care indicators. The province will confirm closer to the expected start of Step One.

The three steps outline how the Province will be easing public health measures, guided by the following principles:

Step One: An initial focus on resuming outdoor activities with smaller crowds where the risk of transmission is lower and permitting retail with restrictions. This includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, outdoor dining with up to four people per table and non-essential retail at 15 per cent capacity.
Step Two: Further expanding outdoor activities and resuming limited indoor services with small numbers of people where face coverings are worn. This includes outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people, outdoor sports and leagues, overnight camps, personal care services where face coverings can be worn and with capacity limits, as well as indoor religious services, rites or ceremony gatherings at 15 per cent capacity.
Step Three: Expanding access to indoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can’t always be worn. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness; indoor dining, museums, art galleries and libraries, and casinos and bingo halls, with capacity limits.

The province will remain in each step for at least 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators. If at the end of the 21 days, the following vaccination thresholds have been met, along with positive trends in other key public health and health system indicators, then the province will move to the next step:

Step 1: 60 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose – expected start date of June 14, 2021, to be confirmed closer to the date
Step 2: 70 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses – a minimum of three weeks after Step 1 begins
Step 3: 70 to 80 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent vaccinated with two doses – a minimum of 3 weeks after Step 2 begins

The provincewide emergency brake restrictions remain in effect while the province assesses when it will be moving to Step One of the roadmap with the Stay at Home order expiring on June 2, 2021. During this time, the government will continue to work with stakeholders on reopening plans to ensure full awareness of when and how they can begin to safely reopen.

On May 22, 2021 the province opened outdoor recreational amenities with restrictions in place, such as the need to maintain physical distancing. These amenities include but are not limited to golf courses and driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, splash and spray pads and skate parks. No outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted. Outdoor limits for social gatherings and organized public events will be expanded to five people, which will allow these amenities to be used for up to five people, including with members of different households.

At this time, publicly funded and private elementary and secondary schools in the province will continue to operate under teacher-led remote learning. Data will be assessed on an ongoing basis and medical experts, including the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and other health officials will be consulted to determine if it may be safe to resume in-person learning.

The government will continue to work with the Public Health Measures Table, Public Health Ontario, and other public health and scientific experts to determine public health guidance for Ontarians to follow, including protocols for masking and outdoor/indoor gatherings, after being fully vaccinated.

To learn about the Roadmap to Reopening please visit: https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1000159/roadmap-to-reopen

OFFICE NOTICE:

In an effort to contain the COVID-19 virus, our Constituency Office went virtual on March 16, 2020. Our location will remain closed until further notice. We are still open & working during regular office hours to answer your calls & emails. If you require assistance on any matter, please contact me at any time. It’s why I’m here. Even if it’s not a provincial issue, I’ll make sure to connect you with the proper office.

– Goldie
Your voice at Queen’s Park