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Health Minister Says Province Will Stick to 21 Day Waiting Period Between Re-Opening Stages

Health Minister Christine Elliott says the province is still working on exact details to take effect under Step Three of the re-opening framework.

Despite pressures from businesses and politicians, Elliott indicated earlier today that Ontario would stick to the current 21-day waiting period between re-opening stages.

While the province is set to enter Step Three in two weeks, Elliott says the fine print on issues surrounding masking and capacity limits have yet to be decided. 

"Businesses do need to have this information in order to be able to plan and it's something that we are actively working on now," Christine Elliott said. "We will release this information well in advance."

She also notes a 21 day wait period would avoid a spike in cases due to infectious variants. 

This comes as mayors and chairs from several municipalities call for clear guidelines on Step Three. 

Under Step Three, gyms, indoor dining, and indoor events will be permitted. 

Ontario has passed its COVID-19 vaccination targets for entering the next stage, as 78 percent of adults have received their first shot, and 49 percent are double-dosed. 

However, the Health Minister says the Delta variant remains a large concern. 

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