February 15, 2022

February 15th is the 46th day of the year. There are 319 days remaining until the end of the year.

Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that Ontario is accelerating the lifting of most public health measures, moving the date up to Thursday. The second step of the reopening was originally scheduled for February 21st.

Measures being lifted on February 17th:

• Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
• Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
• Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required: Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities;
• Allowing 50% of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
• Allowing 50% of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
• Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.
  Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors

Ontario will also lift the proof of vaccination requirements for all settings on March 1st.

The province has yet to provide any timeline for ending masking requirements but one is coming soon.

With key public health and health care indicators continuing to improve, Ontario is cautiously and gradually easing public health measures sooner, with the next phase of measures being eased on February 17, 2022.

Learn more: https://t.co/M0QWtaQDdh pic.twitter.com/DYTsuevIWD

— Ontario Ministry of Health (@ONThealth) February 14, 2022

Also announced on Monday: Booster vaccine eligibility is expanding.

As of 8am on Friday, Ontario is expanding booster dose eligibility to youth aged 12 to 17.

Appointments can be booked through GetYourShotCK.ca. Appointments will be booked for approximately six months (168 days) after a second dose.

To book an appointment online, individuals must be 12 years old at the time of appointment.

There’s a blood donor clinic today in Tilbury from 1-7pm.

No walk-in appointments are available, although day of appointments do become available.

Book your appointment at Blood.ca, call 1-888-2-DONATE or use the apps.

The clinic is at Ryder Hall in Memorial Arena, Tilbury.

More medals over night for Canada at the Winter Olympics.

On Day 11 – Gold for the womens Long Track Speed skaters. Isabelle Weidemann has now won a Gold, Silver and Bronze in Beijing. Max Parrot took bronze in the men’s Snowboard Big Air.

The Men’s hockey team will play China at 8:10 this morning.

The Canadian Women’s hockey team will play defending champion United States Thursday at 11:10pm. The women have won five Olympic gold medals. Canada has reached every final since women’s hockey made its Olympic debut in 1998.

Canada now has 16 medals; 2 Gold, 4 Silver and 11 Bronze – good for 13th overall. We’re 4th in total medals.

Today is National Flag of Canada Day.

At the stroke of noon on February 15, 1965, Canada’s red and white maple leaf flag was raised for the very first time on Parliament Hill. On the same day in 1996, National Flag of Canada Day was declared.

Our national flag is a symbol that unites Canadians and reflects the common values we take pride in — equality, freedom and inclusion.

Flags are changed daily at the Parliament buildings and the Peace Tower in Ottawa. The flags that are taken down are offered to Canadians across the country. If you would like a free flag, you can submit your name here. The waiting period for both Peace Tower and other Parliament Hill flags exceeds 100 years.

Categorised in: 5 Things You Need To Know

This post was written by Chris McLeod