06 May 2020 – Ontario further eases restrictions on retail stores and essential construction

Type of Intervention: Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Finance/Economy, Private Sector and Businesses
Intervention Categories: Social and physical distancing measures; Reopening offices, businesses, institutions, and operations
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Premier Doug Ford, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction

Overview: The Ontario government is allowing retail stores with street entrances to provide curbside pickup and delivery, in-store payment and purchases at garden centres, nurseries, and hardware stores and safety supply stores. The government is also expanding the continuation of construction projects to allow below-grade multi-unit residential projects, like apartments, and existing above-grade projects. This will help support economic recovery and support housing.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/05/ontario-further-eases-restrictions-on-retail-stores-and-essential-construction-during-covid-19.html

Type of Justification: Perception of decreased threat
Source of Evidence or Justification: Sub-national, provincial reopening framework
Evidence/Justification: The government of Ontario cites improving trends and progress on slowing the spread of COVID-19 as justification for the gradual easing of restrictions, such as allowing certain businesses to safely reopen. Additionally, the province’s Framework for Reopening is continuously being used to carry out these reopening measures, which are being carefully monitored by public health officials.