In his daily briefing yesterday, Premier Doug Ford announced that emergency measures in Ont. would continue until at least May 29. That includes the closure of bars and restaurants except for take-out and delivery, as well as restrictions on social gatherings of more than five people.
The re-opening of parks and public spaces will not happen until later stages of the plan.
“Although we are entering the first stage of our framework to reopen the economy, it’s critical that we continue to do so in a safe and responsible manner,” said Premier Ford.
“The people of Ontario have been doing a fantastic job to help flatten the curve and stop the spread of this terrible virus. With warmer weather beginning, individuals and families will now be able to enjoy many outdoor amenities, but everyone must continue to maintain physical distancing from those outside of their household.”
Health officials continue to stress the importance of safety measures including:
- Maintaining physical distancing
- Washing hands regularly
- Staying home if you feel unwell
Today, with health and safety guidance from the province, many businesses will start reopening in Ontario. As you begin to shop in-store again, please continue to follow the health and safety measures in place, like wash your hands often and practice physical distancing. pic.twitter.com/7xIzTuvvUt
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) May 19, 2020
In a new step, the province provided some exemptions for drive-in religious gatherings.
The new conditions include:
- Keeping vehicles two metres or more apart
- Only members of the same household can be in one vehicle at a time
- People will not be able to leave their vehicles
- No more than five people can conduct the service at one time from outside a motor vehicle and they must remain at least two metres apart
As the province looks towards re-opening, a new poll conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies shows that the majority of Canadians believe province-wide measures are not the way to go when it comes to reviving the economy. The polls shows that only 35% of Canadians thought that re-opening measures should apply to entire provinces, while 47% thought decisions on re-opening should be made regionally.
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