OTTAWA: Ontario announced Monday a gradual easing of pandemic restrictions in parts of Canada’s most populous province, however stated Toronto would remain shut down for at least two more weeks.
The loosening of the province’s lockdown, in place since Dec 26, comes after COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations dropped.
Quebec, Alberta, and Nova Scotia also moved to lift public health restrictions.
“Today, we’re seeing some sunlight break through the clouds,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford told a news conference.
“Every day (COVID-19) case numbers are down, transmission rates are down, fewer people are being hospitalized,” he stated. “The measures are working.”
A state of emergency within the province of 14 million residents would expire at the end of Tuesday, with retailers allowed to reopen Wednesday, albeit with reduced shopping capacity.
Toronto and a handful of other Ontario hotspots, however, should wait till Feb 22 for stay-at-home orders to be rescinded.
“Let me be clear if we see the numbers spike again, we’re ready to take further motion as necessary,” Ford commented, raising issues about new COVID-19 variants such as one from Brazil detected in Toronto on Sunday.
Ontario has also recorded some 200 infections of the British and South African variant strains.
In neighboring Quebec, non-essential businesses and museums were allowed to reopen Monday, but a night curfew is to remain in impact for another two weeks.
Movie theaters, bars, and restaurants also stay closed.
In Alberta, gyms reopened for one-on-one workouts, and restaurants closed late last yr had been permitted to start providing in-person dining.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia – home to Canada’s Atlantic navy fleet – increased gathering limits to 100 individuals indoors and 150 outdoors for events like bingo, weddings, and festivals.
As of Monday, Canada had more than 800,000 COVID-19 cases and nearly 21,000 deaths. Ontario accounted for about one-third of those cases and fatalities.
