Retailers, garden stores, nurseries and hardware stores are getting a lifeline from the province.

Premier Doug Ford announced Wednesday all retail stores with a street entrance to provide curbside pickup and delivery, as well as in-store payment and purchases at garden centres, nurseries, hardware stores and safety supply stores will be able to open in the next few days.

Nurseries and garden stores will be open Friday, hardware and safety supply stores can be open Saturday and Monday, retailers with a street front entrance can begin to provide services at the curbside or through delivery.

That sort of service has already been seen in Lambton County. For example, flower shops in the region are offering delivery for Mother’s Day.

Retail businesses have been closed for weeks since March 23.

The province is also allowing more construction work, including demolition in critical public projects, and some construction of multi unit buildings.

Premier Doug Ford says all the retailers and construction sites will have to follow strict public health rules.

Ford says the province doesn’t want to move “too fast” incase it “ignites” the spread of COVID-19.

“Even if we give the virus an inch, it can set us back.”