Ontario announces new COVID-19 measures to Curb the Spread of Omicron variant.
The Premier of Ontario, Dough Ford, revealed several new COVID-19 measures amidst the spread of the Omicron variant which has taken a toll on the health sector.
He said all public and private schools would return to remote learning for two weeks, from January 5-17.
The ministers of health, finance, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, and the Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Health joined the press conference on Monday.

The announcement is in response to the current upsurge in the cases of the Omicron-variant.
The new restrictions cover a wide range of services as published by the government of Ontario :

WORK FROM HOME
Businesses and organizations must make sure that all work is conducted remotely unless the nature of the work requires workers to be on-site at the workplace.

RETAIL
All retail must operate under the following conditions:
50 per cent capacity
music played is not above a decibel level where normal conversation is possible
active screening at photography studios and services
safety measures for vehicle test drives sales, such as a maximum of 10 minutes for a test drive, a maximum of two people in a vehicle, including one sales representative, windows must be rolled down, active screening, masking, etc.
Safety measures for shopping malls, including capacity limits, no loitering, distancing in line ups, food courts closed and active screening.
CAMPS
Day and overnight camps are closed.

Meeting and events spaces, and food and drink establishments-
Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments, including those with dance floors (such as nightclubs) and strip clubs, must operate under the following conditions:
indoor service closed
take out, drive-through and delivery allowed
outdoor areas open with restrictions including, but not limited to:
no more than 10 people per table
patrons must remain seated
no dancing or singing
active screening
limited hours for the sale, service and consumption of liquor
Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres and convention centres must operate under the following conditions:
indoor areas closed with exceptions, such as child care, court and government services, social services, health services, collective bargaining and mental health/addiction services up to 10 people, in-person exams for limited fields/occupations up to 50 people
outdoor areas open with restrictions including, but not limited to:
no more than 10 people per table
patrons must remain seated
no dancing or singing
active screening
limited hours for the sale, service and consumption of liquor
Sports and recreational fitness activities
Indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including gyms, sporting events and personal training, must operate under the following conditions:
indoor closed with limited exceptions and conditions (such as athletes training for Olympics and Paralympics, select professional and elite amateur sports leagues who will operate via an approved framework from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and persons with disabilities for physical therapy)
outdoor open with spectators limited to 50 per cent capacity and other restrictions
proof of vaccination required for facilities with a usual capacity of 20,000 or more people
Recreational amenities
Recreational amenities must operate under the following conditions:
indoor recreational amenities closed
outdoor recreational amenities open
Entertainment
Concert venues, theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks, waterparks, tour and guide services including boat tours, fairs, rural exhibitions and festivals must operate under the following conditions:
outdoor open with restrictions (such as masking on rides)
spectators at seated events at 50 per cent capacity
outdoor tours and boat tours at 50 per cent capacity
Drive-in and drive-through events permitted with restrictions, such as distancing between cars, only permitted to leave a vehicle in limited circumstances, etc.
indoor areas of concert venues, theatres and cinemas closed except for rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted performance, artistic event or performance, with restrictions
Commercial film and television production
studio audiences not permitted
Restrictions, including performers, must be distanced unless necessary
Casinos and racing venues
Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments will be closed.

Horse and car racing tracks and similar venues must operate under the following conditions:

indoor areas closed
outdoor areas open with restrictions, including mandatory reservations, spectators limited to 50 per cent of usual seating capacity and others
proof of vaccination required for facilities with a standard capacity of 20,000 or more people.
Personal care services
Saunas, steam rooms and oxygen bars will be closed.

Personal care services such as barbers, hair salons, tattoo parlours must operate under the following conditions:
50 per cent capacity
no services where face coverings need to be removed
by appointment only
active screening
music played is not above a decibel level where normal conversation is possible
Short-term accommodation
Hotels, motels and similar establishments must operate under the following conditions:
open except for any area required to be closed, such as indoor gyms, pools, steam rooms/saunas
restaurants within the hotel or motel may offer takeout or delivery only
Short-term rentals must operate under the following conditions:
only open to those in need of housing (does not apply to hotels, motels, lodges, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences.)
ice fishing huts permitted with restrictions
Other service providers
Liquor sales and service are permitted under the following conditions:
sale of alcohol must end at 10 p.m. and no consumption of alcohol on-premise in businesses or settings after 11 p.m., except for delivery and takeout services, grocery and convenience stores and other liquor retail stores