Ford Government extends emergency protocols to June 19

The emergency orders were initially set to be lifted June 9, but in a news release on Saturday morning the province announced that it had moved back the date to June 19, according to CTV News.

The directive indicates that bars and restaurants will still continue to offer take-out services only and that childcare services will remain closed.

"It is critical that we keep these emergency orders in place so we can continue to reopen the province gradually and safely," Premier Doug Ford announced during the release.

"We are not out of the woods yet, and this deadly virus still poses a serious risk. We encourage businesses to begin preparing to reopen, so when the time comes, they will be able to protect employees, consumers and the general public."

Ford told reporters that plans for the the second stage of Ontario's reopening process would be released "early next week."

Ford qualified his statement by saying that the announcement of the plan does not mean it would immediately go into effect, as that would depend on the data released about the status of COVID-19.

"We are moving cautiously because God forbid this comes back and bites us in the back-side," he added.