Ontario announces three-step plan to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions

Ontario announced it will allow indoor dining and gyms to reopen and will increase gathering limits on Jan. 31 as part of a three-step plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions in the province.

"We can be confident that the worst is behind us as we look to cautiously ease public health measures," Premier Doug Ford said Thursday. "We are now in a position to cautiously and gradually ease public health measures."

Starting Jan. 31, social gathering limits will increase to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, the province said. 

Indoor dining, gyms, retailers, shopping malls, and cinemas can reopen at 50 per cent capacity. 

Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments can also reopen.