Hamilton enters Stage 3 reopening next week: here’s what you need to know

Hamiltonians are about to be granted more freedom as the province moves into the next stage of its reopening plan next week.

The province announced Friday that all of Ontario will enter Step 3 on Friday, July 16, nearly a week earlier than expected. Step 2 began on June 30, and we were meant to stay in that phase for 21 days.

So, what does this news mean for you?

Here is a breakdown of everything Hamiltonians have to look forward to:

Dining: No capacity limits on indoor dining but physical distancing and other restrictions remain in effect.

Socializing: Up to 100 people can gather outdoors. Up to 25 people can gather indoors.

Shopping: All retail shops limited to capacity that allows people to maintain a physical distance of two metres.

Religious services, weddings and funerals: Allowed, with physical distancing required.

Gyms: Open, with a 50 per cent capacity limit indoors.

Personal care services: Open, with capacity limited to the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres. Services that require removal of a face mask are allowed.

Other: Museums, galleries, zoos, landmarks, botanical gardens, science centres, casinos/bingo halls, amusement parks, fairs and rural exhibitions, festivals, are allowed to open with capacity limited to no more than 50 per cent capacity indoors and 75 per cent capacity outdoors.

Concert venues, cinemas, and theatres: Open, with up to 50 per cent capacity indoors or a maximum limit of 1,000 people for seated events - whichever is less. Outdoors, up to 75 per cent capacity or a maximum limit of 5,000 people for unseated events - whichever is less - and up to 75 per cent capacity outdoors or a maximum of 15,000 people for events with fixed seating - whichever is less.

More to come ...

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com