A Month-Long Stay-At-Home Order In Ontario Is Expected To Be Announced Today

The Ontario government is expected to announce a provincewide stay-at-home order today — similar to the one enacted in January — in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

According to reports from CBC News and CP24, Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet has met to discuss the new stay-at-home order, which will shut down non-essential retail stores once again.

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Sources told CBC News that the order is set to take effect as of 12:01 a.m. on Thursday and will last up to four weeks.

It comes as pressure has grown on the Ford government to tighten measures, with several leading medical officers of health (in Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa) urging the province to impose a stricter stay-at-home order.

On Tuesday, Ford defended measures taken by his government last week, but suggested additional restrictions would be coming very soon.

What will Ontario's new stay-at-home order look like?

On Saturday, April 3, Ford announced that the province would be re-entering a shutdown of sorts, but non-essential retailers (including big box stores) were allowed to stay open at 25% capacity, while essential retailers could stay open at 50% capacity.

However, the new stay-at-home order is expected to only allow grocery stores and pharmacies to open. 

Larger retail stores will be limited to selling essential items only for in-person shopping. This means non-essential stores, like clothing retailers, for example, will shut down once again.

Right now, there is no suggestion that all schools will be closed provincewide.