On Friday, October 2, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced that it has amended the Regulation setting out Rules for Areas in Stage 3 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 to prevent and stop the spread of COVID-19 and avoid future lockdowns. The announcement applies to capacity limits and operations for liquor sales licensed establishments in Ottawa, Peel and Toronto.
Effective tonight at midnight, restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments (including nightclubs) in the three Regions must limit indoor capacity to the number of patrons who can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other patron, and to a maximum of 100 patrons, permitting no more than six patrons per table. Operators must ensure patrons lining up or congregating outside of their establishment maintain physical distancing, and the name and contact information for each patron must be collected. For licensees in Toronto, please note that the city has already amended a bylaw to limit capacity at establishments serving food and drinks to 75 patrons.
In addition, meeting and event facilities, including banquet halls, may only permit six patrons per table and 50 patrons per facility.
Licensed establishments that are not located in Ottawa, Peel and Toronto will not be affected by these new measures. Licensees must continue to meet all other existing requirements in the Liquor Licence Act and regulations.
For more information about other recent public health measures enacted by the government, please consult AGCO blog posts published on September 25 and
October 1.