BREAKING: Ontario to drop vaccine passport in March, other restrictions this week

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Monday that vaccine passport requirements will be dropped in the province on March 1. As part of that reopening, Ontario restaurants, gyms and theatres will be permitted to operate at full capacity by February 17.

This reopening is four days ahead of the schedule Ford had previously planned, according to CTV. Ford made the announcement on Monday morning in Queen's Park, at a press conference.

"Given how well Ontario has done in the Omicron wave we are able to fast track our reopening plan," Ford said. "This is great news and a sign of just how far we've come together in our fight against the virus. While we aren't out of the woods just yet we are moving in the right direction."

However, mask requirements will remain in place.

Indoor capacity for social gathers will be able to rise to 50 people inside, and 100 people outdoors, while nightclubs, cabarets, bathhouses, and sex clubs will stay at 25 percent capacity.

Capacity limits have been lifted for indoor religious services where vaccination is required, but for worship services that do not require vaccination, social distancing will still be required.

Ford said that these measures would be lifted "if public health and system indicators continue to improve." Ford also said that children between the ages of 12 and 17 will be eligible for booster doses of the COVID vaccine starting Friday.