BREAKING: Ontario ordering non-essential businesses to close
The full list of businesses that will be allowed to stay open will be released March 24
PHOTO: Doug Ford/Twitter
TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered the closure March 23 of all non-essential businesses in the province to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
It will take effect March 24 at 11:59 p.m. and will last for at least 14 days.
“This is not the time for half measures,” Ford said. “This decision was not made lightly and the gravity of this order does not escape me.”
The full list of businesses that will be allowed to stay open will be released March 24, but Ontarians will still have access to groceries and medications, and their power and telecommunications will continue to run, Ford said.
Ontario reported 78 new COVID-19 cases March 23, bringing the provincial total to 503.
It’s the largest increase in a day so far. The total includes six deaths and eight cases that have fully resolved.
At least six of the new cases are hospitalized, including a woman in her 30s, a man in his 40s, two people in their 50s and two people in their 70s.
The new non-essential business order follows last week’s declaration of a state of emergency, which ordered the closure of all facilities providing indoor recreation programs, all public libraries, all private schools, all licensed childcare centres, all theatres, cinemas and concert venues, and all bars and restaurants except to provide takeout food and delivery.
Ontario also previously ordered public schools closed until April 5, but Ford said March 23 that kids won’t be going back to school on April 6.
“We’ve seen global economies grind to a halt,” Ford said. “We’ve seen health-care systems overwhelmed and we’ve seen heartache and loss and we’ve seen countries lose this battle. I’ll tell you, we in Ontario will not follow in those footsteps. We will not lose this battle. We will get ahead of this.”
An economic update being introduced March 25 by the finance minister in lieu of a full budget will include compensation for businesses, Ford said.
Non-essential businesses can certainly operate remotely, with staff working from home, but the province doesn’t want people gathering in their facilities, Ford said. Bylaw and police enforcement are on the table, Ford and the solicitor general said, but resources for that are scarce.
“It’s absolutely critical that the people listen to the orders,” Ford said. “Again, we can’t be knocking on every single business of this province checking on them. They have a responsibility.”
Ontario has also enhanced its COVID-19 self-assessment tool, making it interactive and allowing the province to gather data from it.
The new tool takes users through a series of questions about their symptoms and will help them determine if they are likely to have COVID-19 and what to do.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement that the tool will give the province real-time data on the number of people who are told to seek care, self-isolate or monitor for symptoms, as well as where in the province they live.
People calling Telehealth Ontario have reported long waits, but Elliott said the service now has more than 2,000 lines running, up from about 400 before the pandemic.
The government also says Ontario has 58 dedicated COVID-19 assessment centres running, well up from the 38 Ford said were open just a few days ago.
Since March 22, more than 1,950 people received negative test results, while more than 8,000 people are still awaiting their results.
Ford also announced that Ontario is providing a $200-million funding boost for social services, including shelters, food banks, emergency services, charities and non-profits.
Money is set to go to municipalities and social service agencies, and will help those organizations hire additional staff and operate using social distancing.
“Organizations across the province are doing critical work right now to help vulnerable Ontarians and these funds will allow them to directly help those who need it most,” Ford said in a statement.
The funding will also go toward an expanded emergency assistance program for people on welfare to help cover food, rent, informal childcare arrangements and other services.
