Ontario pauses full reopening as COVID cases rise

Nov 12, 2021 | News

Premier Doug Ford is pausing the reopening.

Based on the advice of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario halted the relaxation of capacity limits in public settings where proof of vaccination is required.

This decision was made in an effort to respond to the public health trends happening across the province, Queen’s Park said.

The province’s hospital and intensive care capacity rate has continued to persist in a stable and steady manner. However, there has been an increase in positivity cases this past week. There were 642 reported cases on Nov. 10 and 603 new reports on Remembrance Day, all of them involving the Delta variant.

As the weather gets colder outside, more people are moving indoors, which is a signal for an increase in COVID-19 cases even with the province easing restrictions.

In addition, the province has decided to keep the existing requirements of proof of vaccination, capacity limits and physical distancing in place.

The higher-risk settings where these measures will remain in place include nightclubs, event spaces, strip clubs, sex clubs and bathhouses.

The decision to keep these existing measures in place will give the province a better chance to cut down on hospitalizations and ICU admissions in the near future.

“Throughout the pandemic our government has taken a cautious approach to reopen, ensuring our hospital capacity remains stable and the province continues to report one of the lowest rates of active cases in the country,” Health Minister Christine Elliot said.

Ontario’s approach of easing measures is becoming successful with COVID-19 case rates remaining below the national average, with ICU admission rates staying below as well.

The province continues to encourage people to follow public health and safety measures and get vaccinated.

“It is necessary to make this deliberate pause as we approach the winter holidays where more people will begin gathering indoors and where students will be returning to in-class learning in January after celebrating with friends and family,” Moore said.