THUNDER BAY - More businesses across the province will be permitted to reopen, including curbside pickup at retail stores, but strict public health guidelines will still be enforced.
The province announced that garden centres and nurseries will be permitted to open on Friday, while hardware stores and safety supplies stores will reopen on Saturday, and retail stores with a street entrance will be permitted to provide curbside pickup starting on Monday.
“When it comes to reopening our economy I would rather be safe than sorry,” said Premier Doug Ford during his daily media briefing on Wednesday. “We have been working around the clock to make sure we are ready. We are using this time to help businesses adapt.”
All businesses will be required to follow strict public health guidelines, including physical distancing, sanitizing surfaces, and installing physical barriers.
The province unveiled 60 workplace safety guidelines last week, which are based on lessons learned from businesses that have been permitted to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are providing clear workplace safety guidance so businesses know what they need to know,” said Minister of Finance Rod Phillips.“More than 60 guidance documents have been released. Our advice comes from the real world. We are learning from the experience of essential business that have been allowed to remain open during the pandemic.”
Additional construction projects will also be permitted to resume, including demolition work and multi-unit condos and apartment projects.
As for other businesses like restaurants, Ford did not provide a date for when they will be able to reopen, but is advising owners to review the sector guidelines for workplaces to prepare for that day.
“It’s tough right now for them,” he said. “They are holding on by their finger nails. I want to tell them to just hang in there. We will put other supports in place. Hopefully sooner than later.”
On April 27, the province unveiled a framework for reopening the economy. No timelines were provided, but the three-stage process will require two to four weeks of clear downward trends of COVID-19 cases.
Ford added that the province still has a long road ahead before completely reopening and it will be done so gradually and methodically.
“I want to be clear, all public health measures remain in place and will be strictly enforced,” he said. “We can’t take the progress we made for granted.”
