Ontario's top doctor says peak 'behind us' as capacity limits lifted on businesses, gatherings
CBC
Ontario's top doctor says the peak of the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is well behind us as the province further eases public health measures Thursday.
Speaking on CBC Radio's Metro Morning, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said the key metrics including wastewater data and the rate of hospitalizations are showing a "profound decline."
"We certainly have the peak behind us, Moore said.
"We were worried about a rebound and that's why we've been watching the data so closely and we've been opening in a phased manner ... [but] I don't anticipate a significant rebound in cases."
Moore is set to hold a briefing at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday to provide more information about the state of the pandemic.
You'll be able to watch it live in this story.
Meanwhile, here's what you need to know about how Ontario's rules have changed:
Restaurants, gyms and cinemas that must screen patrons for vaccination against COVID-19 now have no limits on capacity.
Other indoor spaces that are using the proof-of-vaccination system are also no longer subject to capacity limits, while sports arenas and theatres can open to half capacity.
Social gatherings and public events can include up to 50 people indoors, and settings deemed higher risk like nightclubs and sex clubs can open to 25 per cent capacity.
Outdoor social gatherings can have up to 100 people and organized events have no limit on the number of people if they are held outdoors.
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