Restaurants to return to 50 per cent indoor dining capacity, starting Jan. 31: Sources

Ottawa restaurants can start gearing up for indoor dining again, according to multiple CityNews sources.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to make an announcement on Thursday, January 20, which will include information about restaurants being able to reopen for indoor dining at 50 per cent capacity. The new rule is set to take effect on January 31.

#BREAKING – Restaurants will reopen to in-person dining at 50% capacity starting on January 31, multiple sources tell CityNews 680. An announcement from the Premier is expected tomorrow.

— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) January 19, 2022

The province has been in a modified Step 2 of the “Road to Reopen Plan” since January 5, closing restaurants to in-person dining, shutting gyms and putting a 50 per cent capacity on retail.

The restrictions were scheduled to be in place until at least January 26.

“I’m going to make an announcement by the end of the week, and we will get moving,” Ford told CityNews on Monday when asked if the restrictions will stay in place or lift on January 26.

The premier reiterated that point on Wednesday, telling CityNews his heart goes out to businesses caught in this whirlwind of reopening and being shuttered.

“It’s going to be a positive announcement we make this week. I am looking forward to it,” Ford said. “No one dislikes these shutdowns more than I do. I despise them. In saying that, health is a priority, and we’ll follow the guidelines of the chief medical officer.”

“We look forward to having a good announcement for restaurants and gyms and other folks that have been closed,” Ford said.

The premier says his government will continue to offer financial support in dire times, saying nothing makes up for a closed or struggling business.

Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca urged the premier to clarify public health measures as soon as possible.

“My strongest possible advice to Doug Ford is [to] be very careful, be very prudent, listen to the science table, listen to the doctors. But giving people clarity about the plan sooner rather than later, even if that means we have to extend the restrictions by a few days, would be better,” Del Duca said.

Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said the decision to lift restrictions was a government one. Under the current restrictions, hospitals were also directed to pause non-urgent surgeries to stem the wave of infections straining the health system and labour force.

Last week, Moore said that he expects Ontario will have greater clarity on the impact of the restrictions this week. At that point, he said the province would be better able to determine how and when to proceed with lifting restrictions.

-With files from CityNews' Lucas Casaletto and Richard Southern