Three months ago, Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, entered the Third Step of the provincial government’s reopening plan after the COVID lockdown. Gyms, indoor restaurants, museums, movie theatres, science centres, fairs and exhibitions, galleries, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, bingo halls and casinos, officially opened their doors on 16 July 2021.
Fortunately, over the span of the pandemic, Canadians were able to gamble without any risk to their health and get an excellent gaming experience right at their homes. It was possible due to the online gaming services. A vast number of casinos offered top-tier service to gamblers during the pandemic. High premium video and live games have successfully taken over land-based casinos and saved the industry.
Such blogs as Onlinercasino, put Canadian players wise concerning online gambling and made a major contribution to the entertainment of Canadians during the lockdown, providing hot news and reviews of fresh game titles.
Since mid-summer, all public places, including fabulous Casino Niagara and Casino Rama, were obliged to work with a limited capacity. The limit was 75 percent outdoors and 50 percent indoors. Plus, under the Third Step regulations, all Ontario casinos were able to work only with plexiglass barriers between table game employees and guests, besides a required two metres distance between guests.
But this autumn, finally, all the capacity limits were lifted on Ontario casinos. All the gaming establishments of the province, like bingo halls, casinos, and others are free from the restrictions and limits since 25 October. It became possible due to the successful vaccination company and national integrity of Canada. There are 28.1M fully vaccinated Canadians today – it is 74.0% of the country.
After the government of Ontario reported about “continued improvements to key indicators,” capacity restrictions were removed, and almost all indoor spaces where proof of vaccination was required got freedom. Officially it was announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford in his statement on 22 October. Lifting of capacity limits is the first step of the province’s returning to an ordinary life plan and the gradual removal of remaining public health and workplace safety measures.
Ford has also stated, that due to a cautious and careful approach of Ontarians to re-opening, the province is ready to lift all remaining public health measures over the coming month. He has also declared that the plan was made for the long term. And it will guide safely through the winter and out of the pandemic period avoiding lockdowns.
According to this government’s reopening plan, Ontario locals should see some measures removed each month. December will be the only exception of this period. And by March 2022, all restrictions should be finally lifted.
Assuming everything goes well, the following phase of the plan and the next easing should take place on 15 November. Nightclubs, as the higher risk settings, will get their capacity limits removed.
The land-based gambling sector of Ontario has suffered from the COVID-19, like every other industry that has experienced lockdowns and capacity limits. But hope burns bright that this step will be the first one for a return to pre-pandemic operating levels in such fascinating places as Fallsview Casino Resort and Seneca Niagara Resort.
