Some businesses, mostly seasonal, to reopen Monday in Ontario

A small list of mostly seasonal businesses has been given the green light to reopen Monday as the spread of COVID-19 continues to slow.

During a news conference on Friday, Premier Doug Ford said dozens of guidelines had been developed to help the selected businesses make sure their workplaces could reopen safely and ensure workers, customers, and the general public were protected.

Ford said it should be seen as a “glimmer of hope” that the province’s efforts to stop the spread of the virus appear to be working.

The following businesses have been given the go-ahead to reopen their doors:

• Garden centres and nurseries with curbside pick-up and delivery only;
• Lawn care and landscaping;
• Additional essential construction projects that include:
  – shipping and logistics;
  – broadband, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure;
  – any other project that supports the improved delivery of goods and services;
  municipal projects;
  – construction on colleges and universities;
  – construction on child care centres;
  – construction on schools; and
  – site preparation, excavation, and servicing for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential development;
• Automatic and self-serve car washes;
• Auto dealerships, open by appointment only;
• Golf courses may prepare their courses for the upcoming season, but not open to the public.
• Marinas may also begin preparations for the recreational boating season by servicing boats and other watercraft and placing boats in the water, but not open to the public. Boats and watercraft must be secured to a dock in the marina until public access is allowed.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario rose to 17,553 on Sunday. There have been 1,216 deaths and 12,005 resolved cases.