The fast-spread of the Omicron variant around the world has forced Canada's largest province to reinstate restrictions on social gatherings and impose a curfew at bars and restaurants - where dancing will no longer be allowed - just a week before Christmas.
Ontario announced it will slash the amount of people allowed to attend outdoor events to 25 from 100 and indoor gatherings to 10 from 25 - as well as cutting the capacity in half at restaurants and bars that now must close at 11 pm - as the Omicron strain becomes more prevalent.
The province on Saturday reported that 768 people have tested positive for Omicron, after announcing 3,124 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.
'Omicron will not take a holiday,' said Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore, before adding the new measures that go into effect Sunday will give Ontarians more time to get vaccinated.
Large venues such as sporting events, concerts, plays and movie theaters, will be be allowed to remain open but there will be no drinks or food served.
Restaurants and bars will not be able to sell alcohol after 10 pm, with patrons having to remain seated and banned from any dancing.
Pictured: restaurant patio tables and chairs, social-distancing in Ontario, where health officials are adding further limits to indoor and outdoor social gathering events
Restaurants and bars across the province will also have to close at 11 pm starting Sunday, right as the holiday season kicks off
Doug Ford, pictured left, the province's controversial Premier, announcing the changes on Friday afternoon, and Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore, pictured right
'Throughout this entire pandemic, we’ve never faced an enemy like Omicron given how quickly it spreads,' said Doug Ford, the province's controversial Premier, as he announced the changes on Friday afternoon during an appearance at Queens Park.
'We need to meet this variant head on. We need to do everything we can to push it back.'
'We need to do everything we can to slow its spread as we continue to dramatically ramp up capacity to get as many booster shots into arms as possible. Doing so is the best way to safeguard our hospital and intensive care units.'
Nearly all of Ontario's 14.5 million residents are at least partially vaccinated, with 12,060,658 people receiving at least one shot and 11,350,356 getting both. An additional 1,578,642 people received a third booster dose as of December 16.
Pictured: daily and total vaccinations over time in Canada
Pictured: the figures of Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination rates and statuses
'I am urging every single person to get their vaccine if they haven’t already done so, and sign up for their booster shot as soon as possible,' said Health Minister Christine Elliott.
Meanwhile, more than 156,000 doses were administered on Thursday, with capacity increased to 200,000 to 300,000 in the coming days, according to the Toronto Star.
The Omicron variant is the most contagious COVID-19 strain yet, and is known to spread airborne easier than previous strains.
On Friday, the same day Ford made the province-wide announcements, there were 157 patients with COVID in intensive care, the Star reported.
By January, hospital intensive care units will likely be packed beyond capacity, health officials warned.
Experts are telling Ontarians to continue to wear snug-fitting masks with at least two layers to eliminate any gaps, while simple, single-layer cloth masks are no longer recommended.
Elsewhere in Canada, the social gathering restrictions have similarly been cut as Omicron infections spike.
Pictured: graphs showing vaccination progress for all eligible Ontarians and those 12+ years old
Pictured: a sign reminds customers to social distance six feet apart
In Manitoba, officials are implementing new restrictions on gathering sizes and capacity limits, with the province saying indoor gatherings with vaccinated people will be limited to household members plus 10 others starting Tuesday, according to the Canadian Press.
The limit will be the household plus five for gatherings involving unvaccinated people.
British Columbia is placing similar restrictions on events and gatherings until the end of January, with measures ranging from limits on venues that hold more than 1,000 people to 50 percent capacity, to no amateur sports tournaments over the Christmas period.
The province has also announced the cancellation of all New Year's Eve parties.
In New Brunswick, health officials are reporting 163 new cases of COVID-19, with two more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus as of Friday.
Officials say a person in their 70s died in Moncton and a person in their 70s died in the Fredericton area of COVID-19.
There are 45 people in hospital with the disease in the province, including 14 in intensive care.
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