Brampton ready to reopen when capacity limits lift for businesses, restaurants, bars and gyms

Brampton restaurants, gyms, bars and businesses are gearing up to reopen as more COVID-19 restrictions lift on Thursday (Feb. 17).

On Thursday, capacity limits will be lifted at indoor settings like restaurants, bars, gyms and fitness centres.

Capacity limits at Brampton recreation centres will also be lifted, however there will still be a 50 per cent cap in place for spectator seating at recreational facilities.

While pre-registration for recreation centre activities is not required the city recommends visitors purchase their services in advance of their visit online or by calling 3-1-1.

“Because you’ve got vaccinated and you put the health and safety of our comm first, we’re getting back to normal,” said Coun. Martin Medeiros, who is also chair of the city’s reopening and recovery task force. “Please continue to support local brampton at this time as we’re getting through this together.”

Mayor Patrick Brown said he’s confident the city will see a “safe and responsible reopening” and that Brampton will be able to resume festivals and live events over the spring and summer “unless there’s some surprise.”

“But all the indicators suggest that we’re going to get back to normal and I know the sacrifice that Bramptonians have made have been the reason that we got to this position,” the mayor said.

Starting on Feb. 22, Service Brampton locations will be reopening for walk-ins and Brampton City Hall will reopen from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for residents to access city services.

Appointments will no longer be required, however you can still book service times visiting www.brampton.ca/skiptheline.

Brown said that the number of COVID-19 patients at Brampton Civic Hospital has declined again this week saying there were 21 COVID-19 patients in Brampton Civic as of Wednesday morning, down from 38 patients last week and some 110 patients three weeks ago.

Premier Doug Ford announced the easing of pandemic restrictions on Monday, including an increase to social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

And starting on March 1, the province will also scrap proof of vaccination requirements for restaurants, bars and other indoor settings without having to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

While Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel Region’s medical officer of health, said Brampton is “seeing the resolution of the omicron wave,” the province’s announcement on lifting proof of vaccination requirements gave him “pause.”

He said proof of vaccination acts as a layer of protection not just for the vaccinated, but also for individuals “who are unvaccinated who can’t consistently mask or be protected in those settings.”

“But beyond that the message is still the same – get vaccinated and boosted regardless of what is changing,” Loh said on Wednesday, adding that “if you’re unvaccianted and uninfected, this virus is still as new to you today as it was in January 2020 and there is a possibility of uncertain and possible catastrophic outcomes.”

“So the message is the same – get vaccinated,” Loh said.

Peel Public Health vaccine clinics are accepting walk-in vaccination appointments, or you can book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment through the provincial vaccine booking portal.