The Ontario government is implementing measures and altering their reopening plan in the new year to help protect from a potential spread of the Omicron variant.
Beginning Jan. 4, those entering settings that require proof of vaccination, including restaurants, will now be required to show an enhanced vaccine certificate with a QR code. Additionally, the province will be delaying the lift of proof of vaccination requirements in the province past the slated Jan. 17 goal.
The Omicron variant has been on the rise globally since its discovery in late November. While Canada’s recent surge in Covid cases are mainly related to the Delta strain, Omicron’s potential to spread rapidly is a cause for concern, if not contained.
“As we continue to learn more about the Omicron variant, we are taking additional measures to protect our progress as we head into the winter months,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, in a news release yesterday.
For restaurants and indoor dining, there is little change to experience, but diners will need to provide an enhanced vaccine certificate, which is free to get and can be generated here. Beginning on Jan. 10, businesses within the province’s proof of vaccination system will no longer accept physician notes regarding medical exemptions and clinical trial exemptions.
At this moment, the government has not made any additional changes to other measures that have recently been implemented or changed, including capacity limits––restaurants and bars are still able to be at full capacity during service for the time being, but capacity limits at food and beverage venues that have dance facilities, like nightclubs, have been delayed as of Dec. 7.
The government has not hinted at shutting down indoor dining at this time, but some restaurants have already begun to make the switch back to takeout and retail only on their own terms, fearing a rapid spread of Omicron.
Popular seafood restaurant and shop Honest Weight announced earlier this week that they would be shutting down their indoor dining amidst a rise in Covid cases. While they’re still operating their retail and takeout sides, the decision to close indoor dining was a tough one to make.
“With so much uncertainty surrounding Omicron out there, closing indoor dining feels right to me,” wrote Victoria Bazan, the owner of Honest Weight, in an Instagram post. “I hope this will be as brief as possible and that it will allow our staff time to get their booster shots.”
