Public health rules roll back further as Ontario enters Step 2 of reopening

Public health restrictions on businesses and gatherings are rolling back further in Ontario on Wednesday.

The province moved into the second step of its economic reopening plan at 12:01 a.m.

That means hair salons and similar facilities can open today with masking rules, and retail stores can have more people inside.

Groups of up to 25 people can gather outdoors and five people can gather indoors.

Outdoor attractions and events like performances can open with capacity rules.

The changes are taking effect a few days ahead of schedule due to strong vaccination rates and other public health indicators.

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The province has said we need 70 to 80 per cent of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25 per cent fully vaccinated to further loosen restrictions.

We’ve already met this vaccination target but Ontario’s new top doctor says he wants to wait a full three weeks before further loosening public health restrictions.

Dr. Kieran Moore says the more transmissible Delta virus variant can take off quickly and a cautious approach must be taken.

He says he supports waiting a full 21 days to assess the impact of reopening in stages.

Step three will allow indoor dining and indoor sports and recreation facilities, larger indoor and outdoor social gatherings and the opening of casino and bingo halls.