THUNDER BAY - Starting on Wednesday, all non-essential services and businesses will be ordered to close by the province of Ontario for 14 days.
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement Monday afternoon from Queen’s Park.
“This was a very tough decision, but it was the right decision,” he said. “It is not the time for half measures. The gravity of this order does not escape me.”
Businesses will be asked to take the next 36-hours to prepare for the mandatory shutdown or prepare contigency plans, such as having staff work remotely.
Ford said there is a long list of businesses classified as essential and many as non-essential but did not go into detail of the distinctions on Monday. A list of businesses permitted to stay open will be released on Tuesday.
“As I said from day one, we will and we must take all steps necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Ford said. “The health and safety of every Ontarian comes first.”
Ford said food will remain on the shelves and people in Ontario will still have access to medications and essential products.
The mandatory shutdown could be extended beyond the 14 days if the situtation in the province continues to evolve.
“Some people will ask why or why now,” Ford said. “The answer is clear, we must get ahead of this virus to beat this virus.”
