What's open in Ottawa as province enters Step 1 of the reopening plan
For the first time in 69 days, bar and restaurant patios are open for business in Ottawa as the province enters Step 1 of the Roadmap to Reopen plan.
The Ontario government took the first step in reopening Ontario's economy at 12:01 a.m., with the focus on more outdoor activities with smaller crowds where risk of transmission is lower.
Bar and restaurants have been closed for in-person dining in Ottawa since Ontario began a four-week shutdown on April 3. Non-essential businesses have been closed since April 8, when Ontario implemented a stay-at-home order.
On Friday, patrons visited restaurant and bar patios for lunch or an afternoon drink in the sunshine.
"This is a small victory for the good behaviour of our residents, they've followed the rules, they're getting vaccinated which is great," said Mayor Jim Watson during an interview on CTV News Ottawa.
"The restaurant industry, as you know, has been the hardest hit - waiters, waitresses, cooks, chefs and so on, so this gives them a bit of a lifeline because they've been basically trying to survive on takeout and curbside (pickup)."
Watson visited The Lieutenant's Pump on Elgin Street for lunch on Friday as patios reopened.
"It brings life back to the city," said Watson.
The mayor is urging people to continue to follow the COVID-19 guidelines to allow businesses to continue to reopen.
"We have to continue to get jabs in arms, number one and we also have to respect the rules," said Watson in an interview with CTV News Ottawa's Christina Succi.
"We don't want to see thousands of people looking for hundreds of seats in the ByWard Market tonight. We'll probably see that unfortunately, but please physically distance. Let's not blow it for these restaurant workers who have been without work for a long time."
Under Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen, outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 10 people are permitted. Indoor gatherings with people outside your household remain prohibited.
Here's is a look at what's allowed to open in Ottawa in Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen plan:
- Outdoor dining with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households
- Non-essential retail permitted at 15 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold
- Essential and other select retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold
- Outdoor religious services, rites, or ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres
- Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor groups in personal training and outdoor individual/team sport training to be permitted with up to 10 people
- Movie theatre drive-ins are permitted to open
- Day camps for children permitted to operate
- Overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites are allowed to open, including Ontario Parks, and short-term rentals
- Outdoor horse racing tracks and motor speedways permitted to operate without spectators
- Outdoor attractions such as zoos, landmarks and historic sites may open with capacity and other restrictions
Retail stores in malls must remain closed unless the stores have a street-facing entrance.
Here is a look at the plans at each Ottawa mall:
Rideau Centre
- Nordstrom, Zara, Urban Planet and H&M open at 15 per cent capacity
- All other stores are open for curbside pickup
- Joey Rideau patio open
- Food court is open for takeout only
Bayshore Shopping Centre
- Hudson's Bay open at 15 per cent capacity
- Walmart open
- All stores open for curbside pick-up
Place d'Orleans
- Hudson's Bay, Mark's, MasterMind Toys and Sport Chek open at 15 per cent capacity
- Other stores are open for curbside pick-up (check with each store)
St. Laurent Centre
- Sport Chek and Hudson's Bay open for in-person shopping at 15 per cent capacity
- All stores open for curbside pick-up
- Food Court open for takeout only
Tanger Outlets
- Some stores open (check with individual stores)
Personal care settings must remain closed until Ontario enters Step 2 of the reopening plan, scheduled 21 days after Ontario begins step one.
Here is a look at what's allowed in Ottawa in Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen plan:
Ontario has said that to enter Step 2, 70 per cent of adults must be vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent vaccinated with two doses.
- Larger outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people
- Indoor gatherings up to five people
- Outdoor dining for up to six people per table
- Essential retail at 50 per cent capacity
- Non-essential retail capacity at 25 per cent
- Personal care services where face coverings can be worn at all times
- Outdoor cinemas and performing arts with capacity limits
- Outdoor boat tour operators
- Outdoor tour and guide services with capacity limits
- Outdoor sports leagues and events
- Public libraries with capacity limits
- Outdoor waterparks and amusement parks with capacity limits
- Fairs and rural exhibitions with capacity limits
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.