All non-essential workplaces will remain closed until at least May 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says Premier Doug Ford.

But the premier said he would have some encouraging news before then for Ontario’s garden centres, which have been ordered to close due to the pandemic because they are not deemed essential.

“I understand the situation they are in and our government is going out on that,” Ford told reporters at his daily teleconference on Thursday.

It’s expected the garden centres, which rely on spring sales for their livelihoods, could get the green light to open for green thumbs next week.

That’s good news for growers set to ship about $450 million in greenhouse-grown plants in the next six to eight weeks.

Earlier Thursday, Ford extended all emergency orders that have been imposed under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until May 6.

Ontario has been under a state of emergency since March 17 and will remain so until May 12. Orders issued under that legislation must be renewed every two weeks.

That means everything that is currently closed will stay shut, including outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, most public places, and bars and restaurants (other than to serve takeout meals and spirits, wine and beer to go).

Only supermarkets, pharmacies, LCBO and Beer Store outlets are open for full service, with hardware stores, pet shops and cannabis dispensaries allowed to offer only curbside pickups.

The move also means continued restrictions on social gatherings to five or fewer people unless they reside under the same roof, and limiting staff from working in more than one retirement or long-term-care home.

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There has been no timetable to reopen schools, which have been closed since March 23.

“We are making steady progress in our battle against this deadly virus, but we are not out of the woods by a long shot,” said Ford.

“It is absolutely necessary to extend these emergency orders to continue keeping all Ontarians safe and healthy,” he said, stressing he was acting under the advice of Dr. David Williams, the chief medical officer of health.

“Every effort made by each of us to stay home, practise physical distancing and wash your hands has been, and will continue to be, the key to stopping the spread of this virus.”

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