Ontario Declares Emergency Again, Puts New Curbs on Business

(Bloomberg) -- Ontario is forcing most retailers to temporarily close or operate under new restrictions and is changing its vaccine strategy in its fight against a new wave of Covid-19.

Canada’s largest province, home to more than 14.7 million people, declared a state of emergency -- its third since the pandemic started -- that includes a stay-at-home order, starting April 8. Many stores will be required to shut their doors, serving customers only through delivery or outdoor pickup.

Even big-box retailers such as Walmart Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp., which were less affected by earlier restrictions from Premier Doug Ford’s government, will now be limited to selling only essential goods such as food, cleaning products and pharmacy items.

The province reported 3,215 new virus cases on Wednesday and is marching closer to the peak level reached in January during the pandemic’s second wave. New, more dangerous variants have been rising rapidly and vaccines have been slow to arrive: about 15% of the the population has been given at least one dose compared to 33% in the U.S., according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.

The biggest problem spots are Toronto and Peel, a suburban region to its west; the two zones accounted for 52% of the new cases. Both regions have closed schools in recent days, sending students online.

Ford said his government will try to vaccinate teachers in those two regions more quickly, expand eligibility for vaccines in “high risk areas” and organize mobile teams to give shots in residential buildings and large employers.

“I can’t stress this enough. Things are extremely extremely serious right now and moving rapidly,” Ford said at a news conference. “Folks please, unless it’s for essential reasons, please stay home.”

Under the new rules, retail categories including car dealerships and telecom stores face new restrictions on what and how they can sell; some will be allowed to provide service to customers in person, but by appointment only. Shopping malls will be largely closed, except for appointments and picking up items.

The main variant spreading in Ontario -- first detected in Britain and known as B.1.1.7 -- is 50% more lethal than previous strains, officials have said.

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