Canada: Ontario allowing select businesses to reopen with strict safety measures
Ottawa/IBNS: The Ontario government has granted permission to some workplaces to reopen on May 4 provided they follow strict public health and safety measures during the COVID-19 outbreak, media reports said.
The businesses that will be allowed to reopen include seasonal businesses and some essential construction projects.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was confident these businesses can operate safely and adapt to the current environment.
Ford added that Ontario has the right framework and the right workplace guidelines in place to do so gradually and safely.
The businesses that would be able to begin operating on May 4 at 12:01 a.m. are: Garden centers and nurseries with curbside pickup and delivery only; Lawn care and landscaping; Essential construction projects including shipping and logistics; broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure; municipal projects; colleges and universities; child care centers; schools; and site preparation, excavation, and services for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development; Automatic and self-serve car washes; auto dealerships, open by appointment only; Preparation of the Golf courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public; Preparation of Marinas for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public.
We are allowing certain businesses to safely reopen as long as they comply with strict public health guidelines. As we begin planning for the next phase of our fight against #COVID19, Ontarians should continue to stay home as much as possible. Here's today's update: pic.twitter.com/Ftd2sHZham
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) May 1, 2020
The province also said that it was critical that people continue to stay home, practice physical distancing, and only go out if essential.
Ford said on Friday that at least two weeks should be allowed before restrictions are relaxed.
"As we begin planning for the next phase of our fight against COVID-19, Ontarians should continue to stay home as much as possible to ensure we stop as quickly as possible the spread of this virus," Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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