Simcoe Muskoka: What you need to know as the region enters Ontario's Step 1 reopening
Simcoe Muskoka joins the province on Friday as it moves into Step 1 of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopening, leaving many business owners scrambling to prepare to welcome back customers.
However, the first stage in the roadmap doesn't allow all businesses to start back up.
Here's what residents need to know as many closed signs spin around to read open on Friday.
STEP 1
Stores that have been open all along can remove the caution tape and barriers and sell everything once again. These retailers are restricted to a 25 per cent capacity limit.
Retailers that have had their doors locked for months can welcome back customers with a 15 per cent capacity.
Additionally, outdoor gatherings expand to 10 people, patios can offer dining with four at a table, and overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites can open in time for the weekend.
Here's a list of some local attractions reopening:
- Elmvale Jungle Zoo, Sat. June 12
- Santa's Village, Sat. June 12 - operating limited attractions on weekends until the end of June. Activities include splash pads, pools, food vendors, mini-golf, outdoor adventure park courses, aerial park, hiking trail and suspension bridge.
- Wye Marsh, Mon. June 14
- Scenic Caves Nature Adventures, opened on June 4
- Rounds Ranch, June 25
A complete list of what is permitted in Step 1 is available here.
Still, Step 1 excludes many businesses, most of which will reopen in the roadmap's second phase.
STEP 2
Many residents will be relieved when hairdressing, barbering and nail shops reopen during the second stage.
This stage allows for personal care services, including tattooing and piercings, as long as face masks can be worn at all times.
Additionally, outdoor gatherings jump to 25 people, and indoor gatherings are permitted, but with a five-person limit.
Capacity limits on retailers jump to 25 per cent for non-essential and 50 per cent for essential.
Here is a list of other restrictions that will ease:
- indoor religious services, rites or ceremonies at 25 per cent capacity of the room
- outdoor dining up to six per table
- outdoor sports and leagues
- outdoor meeting and event spaces with capacity limits
- outdoor cinemas and performing arts with capacity limits
- horse racing and motor speedways for spectators with capacity limits
- outdoor tour and guide services with capacity limits
- public libraries with capacity limits
- outdoor waterparks and amusement parks with capacity limits
- overnight camps
- fairs and rural exhibitions with capacity limits
The province anticipates moving into Step 2 in about three weeks if positive trends continue with COVID-19 cases.
On Thursday, Ontario reported a slight increase in new infections in the last two days, with 590 new cases. It logged 411 positive cases 24 hours before.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.