TORONTO -- TORONTO -- Ontario will start tiptoeing back to normalcy today, allowing a small list of mostly seasonal businesses to reopen as the spread of COVID-19 slows.
Premier Doug Ford announced the plan on Friday and said it should be seen as a "glimmer of hope" that the province's efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus are working.
The businesses include garden centres that offer curbside pick-up, lawn care and landscaping companies and automatic car washes.
Auto dealerships can reopen but by appointment only, and marinas and golf courses can prepare to reopen.
The number of confirmed cases in the province climbed to 17,553 on Sunday, an increase of 2.5 per cent over the previous day.
Ontario has now seen 1,216 deaths linked to the virus, many of which are in the province's long-term care homes.
Ontario is one of several provinces that are starting the long process of reopening their economies, including Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2020.
