The Province has declared a State of Emergency and a month-long stay-at-home order to better fight the pandemic’s Third Wave.
Premier Doug Ford says there’s no doubt the third wave is different from what we’ve seen so far and that we need to adapt.
“Today, on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, I’m declaring a State of Emergency with a Province-Wide Stay At Home Order effective 12:01 am Thursday,” he said.
It will last four weeks and means non-essential retail stores will go back to curbside pickup with delivery allowed only between 6 am and 9pm.
Big Box stores will remain open only for the sale of essential goods like food, medicine, cleaning supplies and personal care items with other aisles blocked off.
Residential evictions will also be suspended.
These measures are in addition to the emergency brake shut down already in effect.
Ford also said education workers in high-risk areas will be eligible for vaccines starting next week.
It’s hoped this all will buy time for the Province’s vaccine rollout, now in its second phase, to take positive effect.
More Announcement Details
In addition, the province is also strengthening public health and workplace safety measures for nonessential retail under the provincewide emergency brake.
Measures include, but are not limited to:
• Limiting the majority of non-essential retailers to only operate for curbside pick-up and delivery between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., with delivery of goods to patrons permitted between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm, and other restrictions;
• Restricting access to shopping malls to limited specified purposes, including access for curbside pick-up and delivery, via appointment, with one single designated location inside the shopping mall, and any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall, along
with other restrictions;
• Restricting discount and big box stores in-person retail sales to groceries, household cleaning supplies, pharmacy items (pharmaceutical, health care and personal care items, and pet care supplies) only;
• Permitting the following stores to operate for in-person retail by appointment only and subject to a 25 per cent capacity limit and restricting allowable hours of operation to 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.:
– Safety supply stores;
– Businesses that primarily sell, rent or repair assistive devices, aids or supplies, mobility devices, aids or supplies or medical devices, aids or supplies;
– Rental and leasing services including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental;
– Optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public;
– Businesses that sell motor vehicles, boats and other watercraft;
– Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services; and
– Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service, which may only permit members of the public to enter the premises to purchase a cellphone or for repairs or technical support.
-Permitting outdoor garden centres and plant nurseries, and indoor greenhouses that engage in sales to the public, to operate with a 25 per cent capacity limit and a restriction on hours of operation.
Education
Keeping schools and child care open is critical to the mental health and well-being of Ontario children and youth. Schools and child care will remain open for in-person care and learning in public health regions where it is permitted, with strict safety measures in place.
The Local Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit says there are no plans to close schools following the already-planned Spring Break.
To watch the Province’s full April 7th address, see below.
https://www.facebook.com/FordNationDougFord/videos/152184566817002