Tiasha Tabassum: The Province is starting the first phase of its reopening plan following this week, confirmed by Premier Doug Ford. This is stage one of the official three-phase re-opening plans. At his daily Queen’s Park briefing he stated that a new detailed announcement will be published on Thursday.
Already hardware stores and garden centers got permission to re-open over the weekend. All retail stores are also permitted to reopen soon but only for curbside pickup.
Although Ford has not disclosed the particulars in detail about Thursday’s announcement he said that more essential services, businesses, workplaces will re-open after considering the low-risk environment. “On Thursday we will share more good news,” Ford said. “More good news about getting people to work, more good news about opening more places and getting paychecks out the door and more good news about slowly getting back to normal.”
Earlier they said that they will start re-opening the following three stages and the first stage will start with opening a few selected workplaces and outdoor spaces. The province wants to ensure public health taking immediate and modified actions if needed. Also, a greater number of people might be allowed to attend important events like a funeral in this phase.
According to Ford, the province still has a long way to go in its battle with COVID-19. However, there are more reasons to be hopeful now for the recent decline in number in new cases. He said, “If we stay the course we will soon be ready to take the next step and now is the time to prepare,”
Between each phase, there will be a two-to-four week gap for re-opening calls as per the Province’s proposed work model.
