Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario Eases Capacity Limits in Select Settings
Date: October 13, 2021
On October 8, 2021, the Ontario government announced that would be “cautiously” lifting capacity limits in select settings where proof of full vaccination is required, effective October 9, 2021.
O. Reg. 698/21, amending O. Reg. 364/20, the Rules for Areas at Step 3 and at the Roadmap Exit Step, gives effect to these changes.
For the Rules for Areas at Step 3, the requirements to limit capacity and maintain physical distancing no longer apply to the following areas:
- meeting and event spaces, including conference centres and convention centres (note, however, that the physical distancing requirements still remain in place for the indoor portion of any rentable meeting or event space)
- areas for spectators in facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities
- concert venues, theatres and cinemas
- horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues
- places where commercial film and television production takes place.
Facilities used for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities must comply with the following requirements: (i) the total number of members of the public (other than spectators in an area for spectators) who are permitted to be in the facility at any one time must be limited to 50% capacity of those areas of the facility that are not areas for spectators; and (ii) every non-spectator must maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person in the facility other than from their caregiver or from members of the person’s household, except when they are engaging in sports or games at the facility or otherwise exempted from the requirement to physically distance.
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