Ontario allowing gatherings of up to 10 people as of Friday

Ontario is allowing gathering to increase from five to 10 people starting at 12:01 am on Friday, June 12, but physical distancing must still be maintained.

The announcement was first made on Monday.

The gathering increase is allowed in all regions, whether or not they have moved to the province’s Stage 2 of reopening – which is expected as of Friday as well.

• See also:
  • Ontario to allow gatherings of up to 10 people as province enters Stage 2 of reopening
  • All Ontario childcare centres are allowed to reopen later this week

Several public health units in various regions in the province are allowed move into Stage 2, but Toronto will not be one of them.

The other regions that don’t have the go-ahead include Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton, Lambton, Niagara, Peel, Windsor-Essex County, and York.

Also at midnight on June 12, a whole range of businesses and services are permitted to reopen with proper health and safety measures in place, in regions entering Stage 2 include:

• Outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other establishments, including patios, curbside, parking lots and adjacent properties
• Select personal and personal care services with the proper health and safety measures in place, including tattoo parlours, barbershops, hair salons and beauty salons
• Shopping malls under existing restrictions, including food services reopening for take-out and outdoor dining only
• Tour and guide services, such as bike and walking, bus and boat tours, as well as tasting and tours for wineries, breweries and distilleries
• Water recreational facilities such as outdoor splash pads and wading pools, and all swimming pools
• Beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks
• Camping at private campgrounds
• Outdoor-only recreational facilities and training for outdoor team sports, with limits to enable physical distancing
• Drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural appreciation, such as art installations
• Film and television production activities, with limits to enable physical distancing
• Weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people

And, all childcare centres in the province can reopen in every region.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health and health experts will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation to advise when public health restrictions can be gradually loosened or if they need to be tightened.