Premier Doug Ford is trimming a little time off the first step of the Roadmap to Reopen.
Wednesday, June 30, Ontario is entering Step Two of its three-phased reopening plan, further loosening restrictions.
Step Two increases the limits for outdoor gatherings to 25 people, allows for increased capacity at retail stores, and means that people can get their haircut as personal care services are permitted to open.
The Porcupine Health Unit region is only entering Step One of the roadmap on Friday, June 25. It is the only region in Ontario that did not enter Step 1 on June 11.
The province's roadmap does not include an emergency brake like the previous colour-coded regional reopening plan. Medical officers of health can add to provincial restrictions with powers afforded to them under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
Catton has issued a letter of instruction for businesses and organizations that will go into effect on Friday, June 25 when the previous letter is rescinded. It includes enhanced rules for collecting contact information from staff and visitors, rapid testing, and isolating requirements people with COVID-19 or who have symptoms.
It is not clear if this letter applies to social gathering limits, which would increase to 25 people outdoors and five people indoors under Step 2. TimminsToday has asked the health unit for clarification.
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Yesterday, Catton said it's too early to tell when the Timmins area will move on to Step Two.
“Generally we like to see a couple of weeks, that’s the usual movement forward from one stage to another, but we’ll really need to see where things are and take all of the same items into context as we move forward," she said in a June 23 news conference.
The state of emergency in Timmins that had been in place since May 17 was also lifted yesterday.
The phases of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen are based on provincial vaccination rates, as well as key public health indicators.
"While the province has surpassed Step Three vaccination targets, Ontario may remain in Step Two for a period of approximately 21 days to allow the most recent vaccinations to reach their full effectiveness and to evaluate any impacts of moving to Step Two on key public health and health care indicators," reads the provincial announcement.
