Finally, the news we had been eagerly waiting for arrived. Well, not exactly, but it was a good start to say the least. Ontario was about to relax its COVID-19 rules for businesses and gatherings. With more people vaccinated, and daily infection cases reported constantly below one thousand, the province felt confident enough to take this step.
This post was first published in June 2021. The rules and targets below are the ones announced at that time.
What Step 1 Meant for Businesses and Gatherings
On Friday, June 11, 2021, the province of Ontario entered Step 1 of its roadmap to reopening. Starting that Friday, these were the key points:
- Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people.
- Outdoor dining with up to four people per table.
- Non-essential retail at 15% capacity.
- Places of worship could operate at 15% capacity for indoor gatherings, and with any number outdoors, following social distancing protocols.
For families, this meant a small backyard visit was possible again. For shop owners, it meant opening the doors, even at low capacity. Many people in Mississauga felt real relief that week. Still, the rules stayed strict, and everyone had to keep following them.
What Step 2 Would Add
Next, the province described Step 2. It would expand access to indoor settings, with restrictions. This included places with larger numbers of people, and places where face coverings could not always be worn. In short, the next stage would bring more relief for businesses and gatherings:
- Indoor sports and recreational fitness.
- Indoor dining.
- Museums, art galleries and libraries.
- Casinos and bingo halls with capacity limits.
Of course, none of this happened overnight. Each stage depended on how the numbers moved. For a look at how an earlier plan worked, read my post on Ontario’s three-phased opening plan.
Next Steps for Businesses and Gatherings
The province planned to stay at each step for at least 21 days. That time let officials check the impact on key public health and health system indicators. It can also take up to two weeks for COVID-19 vaccinations to offer protection against the virus. So the province would remain in Step 1 for at least 21 days as well.
If, at the end of those 21 days, the province met the vaccination targets below, it could move to the next step. However, it also needed continued improvement in other key public health and health system indicators.
- The target for Step 1: 60% of adults vaccinated with one dose.
- For Step 2: 70% of adults vaccinated with one dose and 20% vaccinated with two doses.
- And for Step 3: 70 to 80% of adults vaccinated with one dose and 25% vaccinated with two doses.
For further details, please visit the province’s reopening page.
What the Reopening Meant for Home Buyers and Sellers
Reopening also changed how people bought and sold homes. As rules for businesses and gatherings eased, more buyers felt safe to visit properties in person. Sellers, in turn, started to think again about listing. Once Step 3 arrived, open houses came back too. You can read how I ran open houses in Step 3 and the safety steps I followed.
Even as limits on businesses and gatherings lifted, a few simple habits helped anyone planning a move. First, ask for a virtual tour or photos before booking a visit. Second, keep your group small and bring your own mask and sanitizer. Third, have your mortgage pre-approval ready, because homes could still move quickly. Sellers, on the other hand, benefited from a clean, bright home and clear visit rules. These steps made each showing shorter, safer and more useful for everyone.
Above all, planning ahead reduced stress. When you know your budget, your must-haves and your timeline, you can act with confidence. That advice held true in 2021, and it still holds true today.
I am always available to find a good solution for your needs. That is true whether you plan to buy, sell or both. For example, you may want to move to a bigger house, or you may be downsizing. A professional can often suggest options you had not thought about. Meanwhile, please take care of yourselves and follow the advice of healthcare professionals.
Talk to a Mississauga real estate agent
Do you have questions about your own plans? Please send me a message or call 416 908 5600. I am A. Q. Mufti, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage, and I am always glad to help.
