Ontario raises capacity limits at theaters and sports venues for spectators on Saturday

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Cinemas, theaters, spectator sports facilities and various other spaces in Ontario where proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required may open at full capacity this weekend.

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The government said on Friday that the decision was based on high vaccination levels, stable public health indicators and vaccine certificate requirements that took effect last month.

“Our government is cautiously raising capacity limits in select settings where we know that proof of vaccination requirements is providing an additional layer of protection for Ontarians,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement. in which he urged people to follow public health orders and get vaccinated.

Concert venues, meeting and event spaces, commercial film and television productions with studio audiences, outdoor spaces with a capacity of less than 20,000 people, horse racing and auto racing tracks are also among the authorized venues for open at 100% capacity starting at 12:01 am on Saturday.

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The province said there have been a “limited number of outbreaks” in those settings and that other public health measures will be maintained.

Those measures include masking, detecting, and collecting contract tracking information.

The province said two meters of physical distance will not be required in places where capacity limits are being raised, with a few exceptions. He said indoor meeting and event spaces must still limit users to the number who can maintain physical distance.

The executive director of the Canadian Live Music Association said she was “delighted” with the government’s announcement.

“It is absolutely a move in the right direction and we are very excited to see it,” said Erin Benjamin.

“I’m excited for the industry and not just for the venues and the artists, but for all the companies that support that activity.”

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She said the group is advocating for the same to apply to other venues that are still subject to capacity limits.

A Cineplex spokeswoman said the announcement was “good news” for the theater chain.

“We are reviewing today’s exciting announcement and what it will mean for Ontario film lovers,” Sarah Van Lange said in a statement. “In the meantime, we will continue to focus on the health and safety of our employees and guests.”

Outdoor settings where the normal maximum capacity is 20,000 people or more should ask people to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Capacity limits will remain in place for all other configurations. The province said it continues to review those measures, which still apply to other settings that request vaccination tests, such as restaurants and gyms.

Just under 87% of eligible Ontarians had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and nearly 82% have both doses.

Ontario reported 573 new COVID-19 cases and 10 new deaths on Friday. There were 154 people in intensive care units due to COVID-19, and 15 of them were reported to be fully vaccinated.

– With files from David Friend.