Beginning today, January 31, 2022, the province of Ontario is moving into the first step of its most recent reopening plan. Along with the previously announced measures, which can be found here, the following will also be effective starting today:
- Food and drink services will be permitted at theatres, cinemas, concert venues, indoor sporting events, and other similar venues, as long as individuals remain seated.
- Companies and organizations will no longer be required to collect patron information for contact tracing. Instead, active screening should be implemented. Active screening is interactive and includes:
- Patrons showing a completed online screening form prior to entry;
- Patrons answering screening questions with a designated employee prior to entry.
- Ontarians will no longer be legally required to work from home. Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health recommends individuals who are able to work from home continue to do so.
- Previous restrictions on hours of operations or on the sale/service of liquor have been lifted for restaurants, bars, meetings and event spaces, and other applicable businesses.
- Physical distancing is not required where proof of vaccination is required.
Click here for a full list of the regulations.
Exemptions and Other Information
- Out-of-province or international visitors entering establishments where proof of vaccination is required may use vaccine certificates/passports from their place of residence, along with passports or other identification.
- QR codes from select jurisdictions outside of Canada can be read with the Verify Ontario app.
- Nine First Nations communities are exempt from using the Enhanced Vaccine Certificate QR code. Members of these communities are still permitted to show their vaccine receipt and identification.
For full details, please access the technical briefing: