Toronto Is Pressuring Clothing Stores, Nail & Hair Salons To Close Amid COVID-19
Your self-care appointments will now have to wait. Toronto's medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa is now encouraging all non-essential businesses in the city to close up shop in order to practice social distancing and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Toronto. This includes clothing stores as well as hair and nail salons.
After ordering bars, nightclubs, theatres, and dine-in services in the 6ix to close or face a fine, de Villa is now urging all other non-essential stores to follow suit.
In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, March 19, she said "I'm still hearing from many people around our city that there are still a number of non-essential businesses that continue to keep their doors open.
"If we want to be successful in protecting ourselves, our families, and our community against this virus, we have to take social distancing even more seriously.
"This includes non-essential businesses like hair and nail salons and clothing stores. I am encouraging non-essential businesses that remain open to get behind social distancing. I'm encouraging these businesses to do the right thing."
For now, it seems that is a recommendation, not an order.
De Villa also mentioned that shops that provide food and medicine are deemed "essential" and so grocery stores are not included in this call for closure.
She also discussed the idea of some malls remaining open since these locations often have takeout options as well as grocery stores and pharmacies.
Stores like the LCBO and The Beer Store have shortened their hours this week to combat the potential spread of COVID-19 and also practice social distancing.
Narcity has reached out to both stores to find out how de Villa's recommendations may affect them.
On March 18, Ontario Premier Doug Ford even suggested that a possible limit on customers entering grocery stores should be implemented.
Ford also added that due to the toilet paper frenzy, the same limit should be imposed on certain products on the shelves.
Meanwhile, according to Dr. David Williams, the province's chief medical officer of health, Ontario is expected to reach 60 cases per day after March Break.
Prior to that press briefing, Ontario had confirmed 43 new cases of the virus.
A second Ontario resident has also passed away due to COVID-19, according to Halton Region Public Health.
De Villa reported on Thursday there are currently 128 cases in Toronto.