Waterloo Region will move into Step 3 Friday with rest of Ontario

KITCHENER -

The Region of Waterloo will join the rest of Ontario in a move into Step 3 on Friday.

The area just moved into Step 2 on Monday, following delays due to the spread of the Delta variant in the community.

“Our public health and health care indicators continue to improve or stabilize, and our vaccination rates are increasing rapidly,” Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang said in a news release. “Waterloo Region residents are strongly encouraged to get their second dose of vaccine as soon as they can and continue to diligently practice public health measures, as Delta continues to circulate widely and remains a threat in our region.”

As of Tuesday, more than 80 per cent of adults in Waterloo Region have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 54 per cent are fully vaccinated.

"All of the partnerships with businesses and the province and the fact that people stepped up when we asked them to and they are getting vaccinated in large numbers, that's why we are able to move to Step 3," said Regional Chair Karen Redman.

Redman said although moving to Step 3 is a positive sign, she wants businesses to “open and stay open.”

However, one expert is worried about the mere four days between Step 2 and Step 3 in Waterloo Region.

"Overall, the numbers are trending pretty well," said independent biostatistician Ryan Imgrund. "I don't have a big fear of Waterloo going into stage three, I think the only issue is that they haven't been in stage two long enough."

When Ontario's Roadmap to Reopening was first announced, the Ministry of Health initially said 21 days between steps was preferred.

Imgrund, who works with some public health units in the province, says he would have preferred to see a 10 day gap between stages, but that the COVID-19 numbers in the region look good.

"My worry is that we haven't really fully seen the stage two impact in the Kitchener-Waterloo region yet," he said. "What the stats are showing as at the very worst, the hospitalizations will basically plateau over this next little bit, but they shouldn't get worse than they are right now."

Here's what will be allowed as of Friday at 12:01 a.m.:

• Social gatherings and public events are capped at 25 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
• Indoor religious services or ceremonies are limited to the number of people able to maintain two metres of physical distancing.
• Retail and indoor and outdoor dining will be limited to the number of people able to maintain two metres of physical distancing
• Dance floors can operate as long as people can maintain two metres of physical distancing, with a maximum capacity of 50 per cent indoors and outdoors
• Personal care services can operate at reduced capacity, as long as clients and staff can maintain two metres of physical distancing. They will also be able to offer services requiring the removal of a mask
• Sports and recreation facilities can reopen with capacity limited to 50 per cent indoors. Spectators are limited to 50 per cent of indoor seating capacity, up to 1,000 people and 50 per cent of outdoor seating capacity, up to 10,000 people
• Sports can operate with restrictions on contact
• Cinemas, museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, outdoor amusement parks, water parks, and gardens will be permitted to operate with capacity limited to 50 per cent indoors and 50 per cent outdoors, with additional restrictions
• Casinos can reopen at 50 per cent capacity
• Strip clubs can operate with a limited capacity allowing for two metres of physical distancing

With files from CTV Toronto.