Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario (2021)

Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario (2021) details the ongoing impact, responses, and significant events related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the province of Ontario, Canada throughout the year 2021. This timeline includes public health measures, case counts, vaccination efforts, and government responses to manage the pandemic.

January

• Early January: Ontario continues to experience a surge in COVID-19 cases following the holiday season. The province announces a state of emergency and a stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the virus.
• January 14: The Ontario government extends the state of emergency and the stay-at-home order across the province, emphasizing the importance of adhering to public health measures.

February

• February 15: Ontario begins a phased reopening, starting with three regions moving back to the province's COVID-19 response framework which allows for a gradual easing of restrictions based on the local case rates.

March

• March 1: The Ontario government announces the first phase of its vaccination plan, prioritizing healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and individuals over the age of 80.
• March 15: Ontario enters the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with variants of concern driving an increase in cases and hospitalizations.

April

• April 7: In response to the rapidly rising case numbers and hospitalizations, Ontario declares a third state of emergency and issues a province-wide stay-at-home order.
• April 29: The Ontario government announces that all adults in Ontario will be eligible to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment by the end of May 2021.

May

• May 22: Ontario begins to see a decline in daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, signaling the effectiveness of public health measures and vaccination efforts.

June

• June 2: The province announces a three-step roadmap to reopen, based on vaccination rates and improvements in key public health and health care indicators.
• June 14: Ontario enters Step 1 of the reopening plan, allowing for outdoor dining and the reopening of non-essential retail with capacity limits.

July

• July 16: Ontario moves to Step 3 of the reopening plan, significantly easing restrictions on indoor activities, including dining, gyms, and cinemas.

August

• August 4: The Ontario government announces a vaccine certificate program, requiring proof of vaccination for entry into certain high-risk settings.

September

• September 1: The vaccine certificate program comes into effect, with Ontarians required to show proof of full vaccination to access certain public settings and facilities.
• September 22: Ontario launches a digital vaccine passport system, making it easier for residents to show proof of vaccination.

October

• October 22: Ontario begins offering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable populations, including seniors and healthcare workers.

November

• November 3: The province announces that children aged 5 to 11 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine following Health Canada's approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for this age group.

December

• December 18: Ontario reports its first cases of the Omicron variant, leading to increased public health measures and an acceleration of booster dose eligibility to all adults.

Throughout 2021, Ontario's approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic involved a combination of public health measures, vaccination campaigns, and adjustments to restrictions based on the evolving situation. The province's efforts aimed to balance the need to control the spread of the virus with the economic and social impacts of lockdowns and restrictions.