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WATCH: Province loosens COVID-19 restrictions for sport, fitness and recreation facilities

Facilities can increase their capacity limit per room starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday

Update:

The provincial government has announced that sport, fitness and recreation facilities can increase their capacity limit per room.

As of Saturday at 12:01 a.m., these facilities can have up to 50 patrons for each indoor sport of fitness room, while ensuring physical distancing measures.

Rules will apply to gyms, health clubs, community centres, multi-purpose facilities, arenas, exercise studios, yoga and dance studios, and other fitness facilities.

A press release issued by the government today states businesses can adopt their own protocols that are more restrictive than the guidance recommended by the province.

Ford's government also announced it will be spending $8 million through the Ontario Amateur Sport Fund to help the province's sports organizations recover from COVID-19.

Original story:

Premier Doug Ford will appear at a press conference at 1 p.m. today.

Today's announcement comes one day after Education Minister Stephen Lecce said school boards will be allowed to access $500 million of their own reserve funds to achieve physical distancing in classrooms. 

Ford and Lecce will be joined by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, to make the announcement.

Village Media will carry the livestream, so stay tuned.