Depending on how quickly they can adhere to the guidelines, you may soon be able to visit your dentist, massage therapist, chiropractor, or optometrist.
The Ontario Ministry of Health has given a long list of health care providers permission to slowly reopen their offices. Those also include acupuncturists, speech and language pathologists, dieticians, and audiologists.
Chief of Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams has issued an amendment to the order that shut them down in mid-March because of the pandemic. The new directive came out on Wednesday.
It is unlikely all those offices will immediately reopen since many will have to change the way they conduct business to meet social distancing and infection control guidelines.
"HCPs [health care providers] are in the best position to determine which services can continue to be offered remotely [virtually], and which services can safely resume in-person, assuming the necessary preconditions -- are met," read a directive from the provincial government.
They will be encouraged to consult with patients over the phone or virtually before setting up an in-person appointment.
For those in-person services, Williams also suggests health care providers modify their delivery of service to minimize how long patients are in a health care setting.
Other measures like plexiglass barriers, personal protective equipment, and maintaining two metres from patients where possible are required, along with personal protective equipment for staff.
