{"id":201578,"date":"2022-02-15T09:03:10","date_gmt":"2022-02-15T17:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=201578"},"modified":"2022-02-15T10:43:21","modified_gmt":"2022-02-15T18:43:21","slug":"ontario-casinos-free-most-covid-19-operating-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/ontario-casinos-free-most-covid-19-operating-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario Casinos Free of Most COVID-19 Operating Restrictions Beginning February 17"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ontario casinos will soon be clear of nearly all government-imposed COVID-19 operating restrictions.<\/p>\n

\"Ontario
Casino Niagara stands tall over Niagara Falls. Ontario casinos are being afforded fewer COVID-19 restrictions in the coming weeks, including the elimination of capacity limits and the requirement to only permit vaccinated individuals onto their gaming floors. (Image: Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After roughly two years of limitations, the Ontario provincial government is lifting pandemic emergency mandates on a variety of businesses, including casinos. Effective 12:01 am Thursday, February 17, casinos in Ontario will be mostly cleared to return to their pre-pandemic operating environment.<\/p>\n

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We’re moving in this direction because it’s safe to do so,”<\/strong> said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “Given how well Ontario has done in the omicron wave we are able to fast track our reopening plan.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Ontario’s 28 casinos were forced to shutter in early January<\/a> in response to the wildly contagious omicron COVID-19 variant. But as health officials confirmed that the coronavirus strain presents far less severe symptoms in most infected individuals, and hospitals were not being overrun with COVID patients, Ontario is swiftly removing restrictions.<\/p>\n

Capacity Increases, Vax Mandates Lifting<\/b><\/h2>\n

When Ontario casinos were permitted to reopen on January 31, they were instructed to limit their indoor capacity to 50 percent of their fire code. On Thursday, that limitation will be lifted to allow casinos to return to 100 percent occupancy. Concert venues and movie theaters, as well as indoor sporting events, will continue to be limited to 50 percent.<\/p>\n

Patrons seeking entry to a casino floor must present proof of vaccination through the end of the month. But Ford says effective March 1, that stipulation will also be withdrawn.<\/p>\n

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My friends, like all of you, I have waited a long time for this news.<\/p>\n

Effective March 1st, we intend to eliminate capacity limits in all indoor public settings and lift proof of vaccination requirements for all settings.<\/p>\n

Thank you to everyone who made this possible. pic.twitter.com\/5YdaapBZhy<\/a><\/p>\n

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n