Just in time for Mother’s Day, garden centres are being allowed to reopen.

Beginning Friday, May 8th, nurseries and garden centres will open to the public and the following day, hardware stores and safety supply stores will re-open their doors to customers. But Premier Doug Ford says they must follow strict public health rules. “Those include physical distancing, contactless payment options, and sanitizing surfaces and they can also provide curbside pick up and delivery,” says Ford. On Monday, May 11th, retail stores with street entrances will be allowed to offer curbside pick-up. But the premier says he cannot yet offer a ‘definitive’ date for restaurants to reopen.

Meanwhile, Ford adds it would be a “massive risk” to allow family visits in long term care homes unlike Quebec, where restrictions have been lifted where there are no outbreaks. “We aren’t ready yet,” said Ford. “That’s how the spread started, the seniors and elderly folks in long term care, they didn’t have it, it was people coming in, visitors, and also some of the healthcare workers going from place to place,” Ford told reporters.