Premier Doug Ford is warning he “won’t hesitate” to escalate the closure of shops and services if health experts recommend more extreme measures to contain COVID-19.

With California and New York urging everyone to stay in their homes, Ford, who declared a state of emergency in Ontario on Tuesday, was asked what was next for the province.

“I’m going to rely on the chief medical officer of health’s advice along with our COVID-19 command table along with our health experts,” the premier told reporters Friday at Queen’s Park.

“As soon as we get that advice, everything’s on the table,” he said after he announced an emergency at-home learning program for students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

“I won’t hesitate to shut anything and everything down once I get the advice from the COVID-19 command table and the chief medical officer.”

Ford and his cabinet ministers meet daily with Dr. David Williams, the province’s chief medical officer for health, and have already directed all bars and restaurants to close except to sell takeout meals.

LCBO outlets are continuing to serve the public during reduced operating hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and with limits on how many customers can be in a store at the same time.

As well, all gatherings of 50 or more people are prohibited.

The premier — whose government introduced emergency legislation to protect workers and their jobs on Thursday that passed unanimously — emphasized no one will be evicted from their home during the crisis.

“No one should be able to be kicked out of their home or their rental apartments based on not being able to pay the rent,” he said, noting further details will be announced by Finance Minister Rod Phillips in next Wednesday’s “stimulus package” fiscal update.

“That’s just not going to happen. We won’t allow it to happen. We have to make sure that we take care of the people.”

People who have not lost their jobs or seen their income drop due to the pandemic should, however, be reasonable and pay their rent, he added.

“I respect the landlords, they have a business, but we’re in unusual times right now. We’re going to get through this, the landlords will get through it, but some people are going to face some tough times,” said Ford.

“But it doesn’t give a free pass for people just to say they aren’t paying. Be responsible, pay if you can,” he said. “But if you’re down and out, and you just don’t have the money (and) food’s more important to put on the table than pay rent, then put the food on the table.”

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, who expressed gratitude to the premier for working with the other parties, urged Ford to consider matching the federal 10 per cent wage subsidy to “to double the benefit that this provides to both workers and their employers.”

Del Duca also asked the premier to impose a six-month suspension of provincial payroll charges like WSIB and employer health tax premiums for businesses with up to 300 employees retroactive to Jan. 1.

Furthermore, he recommended a six-month suspension of time-of-use electricity pricing so Ontario’s hydro customers would pay the off-peak charge all day and night.

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The Liberal leader also suggested Ford allow “licensed establishments providing takeout and delivery services to temporarily sell alcohol” as a way of helping the restaurant industry.

“I’m making these recommendations to the government in the spirit of nonpartisanship and collaboration. These are concrete actions that can be taken immediately to protect workers and businesses,” said Del Duca.

Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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