Provinces preparing to reopen as Canada tries to contain spread of COVID

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) — Coronavirus case numbers have been trending in the right direction Canada-wide, and more provinces are getting ready to start reopening in the week ahead.

Saskatchewan, Ontario and Alberta will begin emerging from the COVID-19 lockdowns on Monday.

In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford says the province will take a baby step towards normalcy on Monday by reopening a small list of specific businesses.

And in Manitoba, many non-essential businesses, restaurant patios, museums, campgrounds and other facilities will be allowed to reopen.

Saskatchewan — the first province to unveil a reopening plan — will be allowing low-risk outdoor activities.

Prince Edward Island has already done the same as Saskatchewan on Friday.

With the eventual increase of people out and about comes a risk of a spike in COVID-19 cases, some Candian premiers are also looking ahead and prepping for the worst.

Quebec Premier François Legault says the province will have enough testing capacity to manage an eventual increase and is even ready to shut down again if it’s not going well.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs enabled the first phase of his four-phase reopening plan into action last Friday after a week of no new COVID-19 cases.

Schools will remain close but retail businesses, restaurants, hair salons, museums, daycares and summer camps have been given a target date of May 14 to reopen.

But just because provinces are allowing businesses to reopen doesn’t mean they all will.

Some operations such as the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Assiniboine Park Zoo, say they won’t be reopening Monday.

British Columbia is the only province not reopening, but the premier is expected to roll out its strategy sometime this week.

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