Following the Ford government’s state of emergency declaration in Ontario over novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the mayors of Mississauga and Brampton expressed their support for the move.

But Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown wants the province to go a step farther and shut down malls in the GTA.

“Malls shouldn’t remain open,” he said in a March 17 tweet.

“We strongly encourage the province to request large shopping centres to close in order to further enhance social distancing measures across Ontario and especially here in the GTA,” he said in another tweet.

The province’s declaration of emergency requires the immediate closure of facilities providing indoor recreational programs, libraries, private schools, licensed childcare centres, concert venues and theatres until March 31.

All bars and restaurants within the province, except those providing takeout food and delivery, were also ordered to shut down until the end of the month.

During the March 17 press conference announcing the declaration of emergency, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams clarified that malls were not included in the immediate closures.

Williams said the province will be advised “by different directors and our health-care people” to determine with mall closures are “necessary.”

Bramalea City Centre, which has more than 300 retail stops, has offered reduced hours for its tenants starting March 17. Regular shopping hours for the mall are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday, and stores have the option to open between 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (three hours less) during the week.

On the weekends, stores can open for four and half hours less on Saturdays and one hour less on Sundays, as the mall is offering the option of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.