Ontario reports 31 new COVID-19 deaths Monday as restrictions on restaurants, gyms lift

Businesses across Ontario that were forced to close to in-person customersearlier this month can reopen their doors Monday, as the provincebegins to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictionsmeant to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

Underthe first step in the province's three-step plan, restaurant dining rooms, gyms and cinemas will reopen at half capacity after being shuttered on Jan. 5. Museums, casinos, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions can also open indoors at 50 per cent capacity.

Fergus Lally, a trainer and owner of theCrossFitUV gym in Markham, said a number of happy customers showedup to work out at his gym early Monday morning.

"It's nice to see a lot of people come in [with] smiling faces," Lally said in an interview on CBC's Metro Morning. "I think I speak for all small businesses even though this doesn't mean a return to full capacity, it's nice to start to get things back to normal. Hopefully, it's more positive signs from here on out."

The reopening comes as Ontario's seven-day average ofdeaths reported for people withCOVID-19 inches close to the highest point of the pandemic.It follows a rapid surge in cases driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant that overwhelmed testing and contact tracing systems in the province, threatened the hospital system andprompted the brief cancellationof non-urgent medical proceduresto preserve hospital capacity.

Capacity limits increased, but restrictions remain

Retail stores, including grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as shopping malls, can operate with 50 per cent capacity indoors.

Larger venues, including sports and fitness facilities, concert venues and theatrescan reopen with capacity limited to 50 per cent or 500 people whichever is fewer.

Limits on indoor gatherings will increase from five people to 10, while the cap on outdoor gatherings will go from 10 to 25.

The City of Toronto says it will resume many services and reopenfacilities,including community recreation centres and arenas, fitness centres and classes, indoor pools, indoor skating rinks, and arts and sport drop-in programs.

In addition to capacity limits, businesses will continue to be subject to a number of restrictions. For example, customers at concerts, theatres and cinemas will be required to remain seated.Singing and dancing won't be allowed in restaurants and bars, except by workers and performers.

Proof of vaccination will continue to be required to enter most businesses.

The province plans to ease COVID-19 measures further on Feb. 21.

Monday's COVID-19numbers

Ontario reported 31new deaths from COVID-19 on Monday.

The province has reported on average 62 new deaths per day over the past week. This is higher than the peak of the first wave and almost as high as the peak of the second, which was 63 deaths per day.

The province also reported 2,983 hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19 on Monday, the first time that number fell below 3,000 since Jan. 10.

Monday's reported figure is downfrom Sunday's 3,019 hospitalizations and Saturday's 3,439. However, not all hospitals report COVID-19 data on the weekends.

Currently, there are 583 people in intensive care units across the province,347of whom require a ventilator to breathe.

More than 56 per cent of long-term care homes in the province have active COVID-19 outbreaks.

Eight schools are listed as being closed due to COVID-19 operational reasons, and 165 schools are reporting staff and student absence rates of 30 per cent or more.

Here are some other key pandemic indicators and figures from theMinistry of Health's daily provincial update:

• Tests completed: 15,008
• Provincewide test positivity rate: 14.7 per cent.
• Patients in ICUwith COVID-related illnesses: 583.
• Deaths: 31, pushing the official death toll to 11,444.
• Vaccinations: 91,134doses, bringing the total doses administered to date up to30,649,731. Currently, 91.9per cent of Ontarians aged 12 years of age or older have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 89.2per cent have received two. The percentage of people over the age of 18 who have received a booster dose is 53.2 per cent.

Indicators heading in right direction, scientific director says

Dr. Peter Jni, scientific director of Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table,said many of the province'skey indicators, including test positivity rate, wastewater surveillance and hospital occupancy, are heading in the right direction.

"It's all good news we are ready for this step," saidJni.

Despite those positive signs,Jni's said the number of people who have received their third dose of vaccine is too low, which could pose a challenge in the coming weeks as the province continues to gradually ease restrictions.

WATCH | Ontario 'ready' to ease some coronavirus restrictions, expert says:

Ontario 'ready' to ease some coronavirus restrictions, expert says

3 years ago

Duration 6:02

There is evidence to justify easing some restrictions put in place to fight the Omicron coronavirus variant in Ontario, says Dr. Peter Jni, the head of the province's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table.

As of Sunday,91.8per cent of Ontarians aged 12 years of age or older hadreceived one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 89.2per cent hadreceived two. A total of 6,357,416 people had received their third dose.

"It's really important, especially for people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s to get their third dose because we have a lot of people who are vaccinated with two doses and these people all need additional protection to keep the strain in our hospital low, but also to benefit themselves from the improvement in prognosis,"Jnisaid in an interview on CBC's News Network.

"We really have a 'fallen asleep' situation regarding the rollout and there is capacity."

Jnisaid increasing the number of people with three doses will make high-risk public settings safer.He has been calling on the province to change the definition of the term "fully vaccinated" from two to three doses.