The Ontario government has released its plan for gradually reopening certain businesses as the COVID-19 curve shows signs of flattening, and car dealerships will be allowed to open by appointment only starting Monday, May 4.
The government says the businesses being permitted to operate again must comply with strict public health measures that it has outlined in sector-specific guidelines.
Many dealerships have already implemented such measures as increased sanitizing of surfaces and vehicles, reduced hours, digital paperwork and contracts, having personal protection equipment (PPE) and hand sanitizer readily available, increased ventilation, and partitions and technology that allow sales representatives and customers to maintain their distance.
Automotive service centres remain an essential service and many remain open. Automatic and self-serve car washes are also permitted to open again come Monday. If consumers have questions, they can call their local dealership to learn more about other measures or precautions they have taken as a response to COVID-19 or to book an appointment. Some dealerships are also booking appointments online.
"As we begin planning for the next phase of our fight against COVID-19, Ontarians should continue to stay home as much as possible to ensure we stop as quickly as possible the spread of this virus," said Health Minister Christine Elliott in a statement. "While we have made tremendous progress in our shared battle against this new virus, we are not done yet. We need to keep up the fight by continuing to practise physical distancing and good hygiene habits."
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The health and safety of our community is our top priority. autoTRADER.ca encourages all Canadians to practice social distancing in accordance with recommendations by Health Canada and avoid non-essential travel. It's up to all of us to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If the purchase of a vehicle is essential to your situation, please contact your local dealership to discuss options relative to your region and ensure accordance with Health Canada guidelines. For more information on how COVID-19 might impact Canadian car owners, see our resource page here.
