Ontario Has Officially Reached Its First Vaccine Milestone Needed For Ending Step 3

As more Ontarians continue to get first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, the province is closer to ending step three.

On Thursday, Christine Elliott, minister of health, announced that over 80% of residents 12 years and older have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, marking a major reopening milestone.

"This achievement brings us one step closer to reaching our vaccination targets to exit the Roadmap to Reopen and a return to normal," Elliott said.

However, there are some other milestones the province still needs to meet before step three can come to an end. For example, 75% of those who are 12 and older need to have also received their second dose.

On top of that, no public health unit will be able to have less than 70% of its residents fully vaccinated.

Ontario entered the last stage of its reopening plan on July 16 and is scheduled to remain there for at least 21 days.

What comes after step three?

Once step three comes to an end, the province will return to a more normal.

According to the government, "the vast majority of public health and workplace safety measures" will be lifted.

"The protocols, for most of them, they're gone, with exception of maybe a few that he may want to keep in place, but for the most part, everyone has worked hard and we're going to move beyond this and start working on the economy," Doug Ford stated earlier this week.

However, some small restrictions will still remain in place, "including the requirement for passive screening, such as posting a sign, and businesses requiring a safety plan."

Ford says that a full plan on what to expect after step three will be revealed "very shortly."