So, the moment the music community (patrons, musicians & venues) has patiently waited for was officially unveiled today by the Ontario government. Phase 3 kicks in this coming Friday July 17th, 2020 with an expanding list of businesses allowed to re-open and possibly the beginning of a return to normal.

As the outline sets the foundation for expanding of the criteria if all goes well, at the end of the day this is still going to depend on the public if we claw our way back. Bands and artists will be burning the midnight oil in hopes of getting out to play and Cover Charges are going to be the new "normal" to help pay for live music until full capacity is allowed again.

Read through to the highlighted parts for live music and the end is a link to the actual government guidelines for Phase 3.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health, public health experts and other officials have advised the following high-risk places and activities are not yet safe to open, due to the likelihood of large crowds congregating, difficulties with physical distancing, or challenges maintaining the proper cleaning and sanitation required to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Amusement parks and water parks

• Buffet-style food services

• Dancing at restaurants and bars, other than by performers hired by the establishment following specific requirements

• Overnight stays at camps for children

• Private karaoke rooms

• Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports

• Saunas, steam rooms, bath houses and oxygen bars

• Table games at casinos and gaming establishments.

When Do Gathering Limits Apply?

Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other public health experts, gathering limits apply to higher risk settings and activities where people congregate, including:

• All organized or spontaneous indoor and outdoor events and social gatherings (e.g., parties, fundraisers, fairs, wedding receptions, funeral receptions)

• Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments

• Concerts and live shows, including performing arts

• Convention centers and other meeting or event spaces

• Facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities (e.g., gyms, fitness studios)

• Festivals

• Recreational attractions, courses, and instruction (e.g., fitness classes, music lessons , tutoring )

• Movie theatres

• Real estate open houses

• Sporting and racing events

• Tour and guide services (including boat tours)

Live Shows, Performing Arts and Movie Theatres

Concerts, artistic events, theatrical productions, performances, and movie theatres may resume operations, including rehearsals, with the following restrictions:

• Performers must maintain physical distancing of two metres from every other person, except from other performers where necessary for purposes of the performance .

• Audiences are subject to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing of at least two metres and cannot exceed gathering limits of 50 indoors and 100 outdoors.

This applies to the entire facility, regardless of the number of theatres or performance stages within the facility.

• Performers and staff are not included in the gathering limits.

• Plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier is required between the audience and singers as well as players of brass or wind instruments.

• Drive-in and drive-through venues, as permitted in Stage 2, are not subject to gathering limits.

• Concessions stands at drive-through venues may be accessed in-person or by drive-through or delivery to vehicles.

Restaurants, Bars and Nightclubs

• All restaurants, bars, concession stands, and other food and drink establishments may open for indoor dine-in.

• Nightclubs are not yet safe to open, except for the purpose of serving food or drinks to patrons in accordance with the conditions that apply to restaurants and bars.

• All patrons must be seated when eating or drinking at the establishment.

• Establishments must take appropriate measures to ensure physical distancing of at least two metres between patrons from different tables, unless separated by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier .

• Buffet-style service is not yet permitted in Stage 3.

• Singing or music may be performed by a person or group at the restaurant or bar, with restrictions, including barriers between the performers and patrons and physical distancing. Dancing may only be performed by someone working at the establishment with restrictions.

• Karaoke is permitted only outside of private karaoke rooms, which are not yet permitted to open in Stage 3, with restrictions including barriers, physical distancing and increased cleaning and disinfecting.

• Physical distancing of two metres between patrons from different households or social circles also continues to apply to food trucks, food courts, concession stands and tours, including tastings at wineries, breweries, and distilleries.

Official Phase 3 Government Re-opening Rules here