With restrictions easing in Ontario Monday, Ontario's medical officer of health says we will need to learn to live with COVID.
Dr. Kieran Moore says while vaccines and public health measures have served well, the Omicron variant is evidence it can't be completely stopped.
"In fact we have to learn to live with it," said Dr. Moore. "That we're trying to reduce our risks but we cannot eliminate the risks in every aspect of our lives."
On Monday, indoor dining and establishments like movie theatres and sporting venues can operate at 50 per cent capacity.
And some non-urgent surgeries will be able to resume including some pediatrics, diagnostic services and cancer screenings.
"As a government we're opening up in cautious and slow manner to try to protect our communities as well and the health system," said Dr. Moore.
A large focus moving forward is to continue to protect vulnerable populations.
"We have to have balanced approach as a society against this threat. The ways we've reduced the threat over the last two years of masking of distancing, hand hygiene, staying home when you're sick," added Dr. Moore.
