Older Ontario residents on fixed incomes will begin receiving financial assistance in the form of guaranteed annual income payments this week.

“We have doubled those payments for 194,000 low income seniors across the province,” Premier Doug Ford explained on Tuesday, “This means an extra $166 a month in the pockets of low income seniors, and up to an extra $332 per month per couple.”

After delivering that good news, Ford also hinted that some of the province’s amenities and businesses could begin re-opening before the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over.

“Certain areas that you don’t have to worry about. Working side by side on a line you can’t practice social distancing. Maybe outdoor activities we can look at,” said Ford who announced these plans would be rolled out in the next few days.

It was announced on Monday that cases of COVID-19 have peaked in Ontario.