Reopening imminent for Toronto restaurants, salons

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Ordered closed in March due to the pandemic, Toronto’s restaurants and personal service businesses are being told to prepare to reopen.

That’s the word Friday from City Hall as Toronto announced city business owners can “begin preparing for reopening but are not permitted to begin operating until the revised order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act is announced by the Government of Ontario and comes into effect.”

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Over 8,000 restaurants and 3,500 ‘personal service settings’ — which includes hair salons, barbers, tattoo parlours, nail and aesthetic salons — were shuttered in March by the province in an attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“The last few months have been devastating for businesses that were forced to close due to public health precautions and I know everyone wants to do everything they can to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to avoid having to ramp up restrictions again,” Mayor John Tory said in a statement.

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Once the provincial orders have been lifted, the city will work with businesses associations and agencies to ensure the reopenings happen as quickly and safely as possible.

Once open, businesses will be compelled to follow strict social distancing rules, as well as enhanced cleaning and disinfection requirements — to be monitored and enforced by Toronto Public Health.

The week has been a hopeful one for Toronto’s struggling restaurateurs.

On Monday, Toronto permitted the resumption of street food vending and ice cream trucks, and on Thursday announced the launch of a quick-start approval process allowing restaurants and bars to expand patio space ahead of a full re-opening.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume