Some relief over lack of business restrictions

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This article was published 27/04/2021 (1976 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New health restrictions and public health orders announced on Monday are the strictest that have been implemented in Manitoba since the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both public and private gatherings have been severely curtailed, faith-based services must shrink in size and sports and fitness must incorporate physical distancing.

However, there is one aspect in which the rules are not nearly as strict as last time.

Unlike when code red restrictions were first implemented, businesses have not been hit as hard.

There’s no list of essential and non-essential goods, no businesses are being forced to close on top of those already closed by previous health orders, and dining in remains an option for restaurant patrons.

Malls and big retail outlets have had their capacities reduced from 33 per cent or 333 people to 25 per cent or 250 people, food courts in malls or shopping centres must close and restaurants can only have parties of four on their patios, but that’s about it for new restrictions.

Speaking to the Sun by phone on Monday, Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Spencer Day said there was some relief expressed by members of the local business community.

“From the few people I spoke with this afternoon, including folks from the chamber and some of our members in the food service sector, I think there was a little bit of a sigh of relief,” Day said. “We really weren’t sure what was coming down at 12:30, and everyone expected the worst.”

He said that in the chamber’s conversations with the province, the organization has been expressing that they’d prefer restrictions on private gatherings rather than on businesses should new measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 be required.

However, Day said that the chamber does recognize the difficulty of the situation with case counts on the rise. He also believes this set of restrictions is a reminder that if the situation worsens, they could be stricter next time.

“We all see what’s going on in other provinces across Canada,” he said. “We have an opportunity here to continue to remain vigilant and do all of the things that we’ve been practising so hard.”

Day, who has had criticism for Premier Brian Pallister and health restrictions in recent months, believes the province got it right this time.

“There was some fear today that some places were going to be shut completely down,” he said. “But for folks to be able to still go to the gym, for people to still be able to gather on patios with non-household members is a huge win.”

Mayor Rick Chrest also told the Sun on Monday that some of the restrictions had been less severe than some had feared, though he acknowledged the potential stress caused by the gathering restrictions.

“I hope that people can endure another month,” he said. “The good news is that the vaccines keep ramping up.”

He expressed hope that ongoing vaccinations plus the new restrictions would mean the curve is flattened more quickly than previous waves of the campaign when vaccines weren’t available.

“We have a significant remedy for this pandemic, it just takes time to get through it,” he said.

To play his own part in the vaccination campaign, Chrest said he and his wife have appointments for their shots at the Keystone Centre supersite on Thursday.

“I would certainly join all of the many other voices that say get whatever vaccine is available to you soonest and get signed up,” he said.

The mayor said city council meetings would once again be held completely virtually under the new restrictions, with councillors connecting over the internet. The last couple of meetings had been held in council chambers at Brandon City Hall, but not open to the public.

According to Chrest, the May 5 Meadows-Waverly byelection will still be taking place.

He reminded voters that mask-wearing will be mandatory for both them and municipal staff running advanced voting at Brandon City Hall from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and at the three voting places on election day — Richmond Park Church, First Baptist Church and the Keystone Centre.

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