Restaurants, gyms in Ajax, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby anticipate a return to full operation

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Published October 14, 2021 at 11:36 am

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Restaurant and gym owners in Ajax, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby have been demanding a return to normal operations and it appears the Ontario government is listening.

While the Ontario government has lifted capacity limits at movie theatres, concert halls and sports stadiums, restaurants and gyms are still forced to comply with a 50 per cent limit and vaccine passport verification.

However, Queen’s Park sources indicate the Ford government may be looking to reverse course. Rumours indicate the Premier will lift capacity limits in gyms and restaurants, just as he did for sport and concert venues last week.

Other rules, like masking and social distancing will remain in place.

“This is the right thing to do at this time,” a government source told insauga.com. “The Premier wants to make this happen. He knows how important it is to help businesses survive.”

COVID-19 rates, while ever-present, continue to fall in Durham Region and the province as a whole. The Region reported 95 total active cases yesterday with only nine new infections.

Canada’s total vaccination rate continues to rise, with the government reporting 86.57 per cent of Canadians over 12 vaccinated last Friday.

The announcement could coincide with the rollout of Ontario’s COVID vaccine app which would display one’s status, making it easier to enforce proof of vaccine verification.

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