The Region of Waterloo has announced it will move into Step 2 of the province's Roadmap to Reopen effective 12:01 a.m. on Monday.
“Our community has made a remarkable effort to protect each other. We’re working together to push back against the Delta variant, stabilizing our case rates and hospitalizations, while increasing vaccination rates,” Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Medical Officer of Health, in a news release.
“Continuing to build on this momentum puts Waterloo Region on track not only to move to Step 2 on Monday but will help keep us on track for Step 3. With Delta still prevalent in our region, it remains very important, for each and every one of us, to continue practicing public health measures such as masking and distancing and to continue getting vaccinated. We cannot let up now.”
Since being designated a Delta hotspot in June, vaccination rates have rapidly increased, with adults 18+ in the region having fist dose coverage increase from 58.6 per cent to 79.8 per cent and second dose coverage increased from 6.3 per cent to 45.0 per cent. The increase in vaccination rates and positive trends in other public health indicators have made it possible for the region to move to Step 2, says the release.
“Our vaccine roll out is working and this is allowing us to safely move to Step 2 of the Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen on Monday,” said regional chair Karen Redman. “I know that delaying the move to Step 2 was difficult for residents, business and organizations throughout the Region of Waterloo, but it was a strategic decision and it allows us the best opportunity to re-open and stay open.”
Step 2 includes:
- Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events for up to 25 people
- Indoor social gatherings and organized public events for up to 5 people
- Outdoor dining for up to six people per table
- Essential and other select retail permitted at 50 per cent capacity
- Non-essential retail capacity at 25 per cent
- Stores in shopping malls open, with restrictions
- Larger indoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres
- Overnight camps
- Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times at 25% capacity
- Outdoor fitness classes are capped at the number of people who can maintain 3 metres of distance
- Public libraries permitted at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor meeting and event spaces at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor amusement and water parks at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor sports games, leagues and events at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor cinemas, performing arts, live music events and attractions at 25 per cent capacity
- Outdoor horse racing and motor speedways at 25 per cent capacity
