By Sean Delaney
Beginning July 16th, Ontario entered Stage Three, the final stage of its COVID-19 economic reopening plan.
For the first time in months, indoor dining, gyms, cinemas, nightclubs, and other venues were opened to the public. There are still capacity limits at nearly all businesses, and masks will still be required.
Social gatherings of up to 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors are now permitted.
In order for us to move to Stage Three, the province required between 70 to 80 percent of adults immunized with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and at least 25 percent with two doses.
Ontario far surpassed that threshold weeks ago. Now, more than 79 percent of adults have received at least one dose, and more than 59 percent are fully vaccinated. Today, Toronto approaches 80 percent of our residents with their first dose and approaching 70 percent for fully vaccinated.
This incredibly great news means that, after nearly four hundred days, indoor dining has come back to Emery Village. And just in time for many restaurants that have experienced some of the most difficult financial times. Now, with a combination of potentially reduced capacity due to social distancing, the variety of serving customers both indoors and out allows for more significant number of patrons to dine. And for the many Emery restaurants that were not fortunate enough to accommodate patio dining, take-out is now not their only option for serving the community.
Next month we will run a two-page restaurant listing. Please support our local restaurants.