This week, Newfoundland, Quebec and Manitoba loosen certain restrictions that affect businesses and gatherings. Alberta and Saskatchewan plan to ease more public health measures, while the Yukon has announced details of their reopening plan subject to COVID-19 indicators.
Learn how these loosening of restrictions affect food businesses.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The province has moved to a modified Alert Level 3 this Monday, easing some restrictions on gatherings and businesses:
- Restaurants and bars can operate at 50 percent capacity with physical distancing between tables and masks required at all times except when seated, eating or drinking.
- Movie theatres, performance venues and bingo halls are permitted to reopen at 25 percent capacity for up to 50 people. No food or drinks are allowed.
- Formal gatherings are permitted at up to 25 percent capacity for up to 50 people. Informal gatherings are permitted to a steady 20 contacts.
- Gyms and fitness facilities can reopen at 50 percent capacity. Amateur sports teams and arts groups can resume activity in their groups, although travelling for competition is not permitted.
Quebec
Cultural venues in Quebec will partially reopen this Monday after being closed since December:
- Theatres, cinemas, sports venues and concert halls can operate at 50 percent capacity or a maximum of 500 people indoors, and 1,000 people outdoors. Proof of vaccination is required.
- Places of worship are permitted to reopen with a maximum of 250 vaccinated individuals.
Manitoba
Manitoba will ease restrictions on Tuesday, February 8 at 12:01 am once current public health restrictions expire:
- Restaurants, food courts and licensed businesses can operate at 50 percent capacity. They can only provide seated service with a maximum of 10 people per table. Liquor sales must stop at 12 am daily.
- Casinos, bingo halls, movie theatres, concert halls and professional sports or performing arts events can operate at 50 percent capacity with proof of vaccination required.
- Markets and other retail stores can operate at 100 percent capacity with physical distancing and indoor masking required.
- Indoor public gatherings are permitted for up to 25 people or 25 percent capacity, whichever is lower for those that include unvaccinated individuals (children under 12 are exempt). Gatherings restricted to only fully vaccinated individuals are permitted for up to 50 percent capacity or 250 people, whichever is less.
- Indoor private gatherings are permitted for up to 25 people plus the household if everyone is fully vaccinated. Gatherings are limited to 10 people plus the household if unvaccinated individuals are present (children under 12 are exempt).
- Outdoor private gatherings at a residence are permitted for up to 50 people plus the household if everyone is fully vaccinated. Gatherings are limited to 20 people plus the household if unvaccinated individuals are present (children under 12 are exempt).
Other provinces and territories have also announced plans to ease restrictions, with more details expected this week. In the Yukon, public health restrictions are expected to ease over the next month given that COVID-19 indicators stay down. This includes increasing the limit on indoor organized events to 50 percent of the venue’s capacity and allowing restaurants and bars to seat more than one household to a table, with a maximum of six people per table.
Alberta and Saskatchewan are also planning to ease restrictions, with Alberta expected to announce their reopening roadmap this week.
Is your business prepared to reopen? Use the CIFS COVID-19 Reopening Guide Part 1: Prepare to Reopen to make sure your business stays compliant with current public health restrictions, and ensure your staff has their Food Handler Certification so they are prepared to protect customers from food safety risks as well!