BREAKING: Ford says visit cottages if needed, but don't party

Ontario Premier Doug Ford addressed media on Thursday, providing updates on the current status of the outbreak, touching specifically on the state of hospitals and cottage visits.

Ford credited the people of Ontario and their actions, front-line heroes, and hospital and health care providers, for keeping the pandemic under control. One severe cost the people of Ontario faced was delayed surgeries, which included some vital surgeries and procedures.

Ford said that the surgery delays added over 5,000 acute care beds, which would have been used if there had been a massive spike in deaths, seen in regions in Italy, Spain, and the United States.

Ford announced that "non-COVID" related care would resume in the near future, as a "clear path" to "fully reopen once again" was on the way, said Ford.

Ford said that urgent surgeries would be top priority, especially cancer and cardiac procedures.

Dates will vary from hospital to hospital, depending on the region's circumstances. Criteria include the state of the outbreak in region, availability of beds and PPE, and staffing levels.

To cottage, or not to cottage?

Regarding cottages, an issue that has confused some due to Ford's unclear instructions, Ford said that he spoke to mayors of small towns in cottage country to get a better picture of what Ontarians should do this long weekend.

"This isn't gonna be the typical May the 24th weekend. I'm asking you, please, don't bring a whole pack of people up. It's not the party weekend that it's been in the past. Go up there, check things out, try to bring your own home supplies up there," urged Ford, saying that it would be acceptable for those to go check on their property.

"We've come so far as Team Ontario... So, my message to the people: If you have to go to the cottage and check on things, bring your supplies, and just follow the rules. Follow the same rules that we have everywhere else in the province."

Regarding the comments by BC Premier Horgan that people should not hug their mothers on Mothers Day, Ford said to "use common sense."

"If you go to see your mom, and you have an elderly mother ... Use common sense ... I think families have enough common sense, they know the health of their parents," said Ford. "Families are gonna have to use their best judgement on that."