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City gears up for eased capacity restrictions coming into effect next week

Recreation centres will reopen on Jan. 31 and will operate at 50 per cent capacity
BarrieToday Staff
2018-07-27 West Bayfield 2 RB
East Bayfield Community Centre in Barrie. Raymond Bowe/BarrieToday files

NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF BARRIE
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On Jan. 20, the Government of Ontario announced plans to gradually ease public health restrictions beginning on Jan. 31, 2022.

Effective Jan. 31, 2022 at 12:01 a.m., Ontario will begin the process of easing restrictions, while maintaining protective measures, including but not limited to:

  • Increasing social gathering limits to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
  • Increasing or maintaining capacity limits at 50 per cent in indoor public settings, including but not limited to:
  • Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
  • Retailers (including grocery stores and pharmacies)
  • Shopping malls;
  • Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms;
  • Cinemas;
  • Meeting and event spaces;
  • Recreational amenities and amusement parks, including water parks;
  • Museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos and similar attractions; and
  • Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
  • Religious services, rites, or ceremonies.
  • Allowing spectator areas of facilities such as sporting events, concert venues and theatres to operate at 50 per cent seated capacity or 500 people, whichever is less.

For a full list of restrictions, review the province’s media release.

How city services are impacted:

City recreation facilities:

  • Recreation centres will reopen on Jan. 31 and will operate at 50 per cent capacity.
  • Registered and drop-in programs will resume with capacity limits.
  • Rentals will resume with 50 per cent capacity.
  • Ice pads and pools will be capped at 40 people (due to changeroom capacities).
  • Fitness centres will be capped at 15 people.
  • Spectators will be limited to 50 per cent in the stands for sporting events.
  • All users will be asked to come for their event 30 minutes before, and leave the building 30 minutes after their event.
  • Pre-registration and a completed City of Barrie COVID-19 screening form is required for all activities.
  • Anyone 12 years of age or older are required to show identification and proof of vaccination that includes a QR code to access indoor services and programs taking place at community centres, arenas, and pools. For more details about who needs to show proof of vaccination, visit barrie.ca/ProofOfVaccine.
  • Online virtual programs such as fitness classes will continue. Learn more and register at play.barrie.ca.

City Hall: 

  • City Hall remains closed to the public, except for pre-booked appointments through the city's customer service centre, Service Barrie. Residents must call 705-726-4242 to book an appointment. Residents are encouraged to continue to use the City's online services to easily apply for small building permits, pay for parking or speeding tickets, and more.

Development Services:

  • The Planner of the Day is available to answer planning related questions online or by phone only. Email [email protected] or call 705-726-4242.

For the most up-to-date information on the status of city services, visit barrie.ca/services.

The city encourages residents to support local. To learn more about the supports available to businesses through the pandemic, visit barrie.ca/SupportforBusiness.

For detailed and up-to-date information on the local vaccination plan, visit the health unit's website.

Additional Resources:

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