An air of relief, nervousness and uncertainty drifted over downtown Sidney Tuesday as British Columbia entered a new phase in the pandemic.
The provincial government had advertised May 19 B次元官网网址� the day after the Victoria Day long weekend B次元官网网址� as the start of a new phase in efforts to reopen the economy as British Columbians pivot towards what provincial leaders have called a B次元官网网址渘ew normalB次元官网网址� in the wake of pandemic.
This new phase permits various businesses and services, including some retailers, personal grooming businesses and restaurants and pubs, to reopen their doors. This phase will also see the reopening of various public places such as libraries and parks, as well as the resumption of elective surgeries and other services in the broader health service sector.
But if the date loomed large on the calendars of businesses around the province, its dawning was not so much like a gun signalling the start of a race, but more like the tentative steps of a runner warming up.
Perhaps the most visible sign of this revival was the number of lines of would-be customers, all waiting patiently and adhering to social distancing rules, some wearing masks, standing outside of Sidney businesses. While such lines had existed outside local banks and some other businesses, including Sidney Bakery, during the pandemicB次元官网网址檚 peak period, their numbers appeared visibly larger Tuesday.
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Other businesses, like Buddies Toys, opened their doors for the first time in months on Tuesday. The popular toy store had closed its retail location on March 17 before moving to online sales about a week later. Manager Lauren Powell admits to being nervous about reopening.
B次元官网网址淣ervous because things are different,B次元官网网址� she said. That difference is visible throughout the store, starting with a sign that limits the number of customers inside the store to three. Once they enter, arrows fastened to the floor channel their movement. Finally, a transparent plastic curtain separates staff from customers wishing to pay for their purchases.
Powell said the business had enough financial room to stay closed longer. B次元官网网址淭hat wasnB次元官网网址檛 our main reason for reopening,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e are feeling that Vancouver Island, especially, is doing a good job. Sidney BIA is doing an amazing job with the resources that they are giving. The fire department was incredible coming in to do two tours of the store. They made us feel that we were ready.B次元官网网址�
Powell says she feels B次元官网网址渘ervously confidentB次元官网网址� about reopening. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 probably how everyone is feeling,B次元官网网址� she said.
Just around the corner from Buddies Toys is MariaB次元官网网址檚 Souvlaki Greek Restaurant.
It closed for nearly two months before starting to offer take-out last week. In doing so, it has morphed from a small but cozy sit-down restaurant with a social atmosphere into a large, permanent food truck with customers ordering from the street and a large plastic sheet separating them from staff taking orders.
Provincial orders limit restaurants to 50 per cent capacity and six persons per table, while requiring two metres between patrons sitting at different tables, and between patrons from different parties sitting at a bar or counter. Employers are also required to retain the contact information for one member of every party for 30 days in the event that health officials require contact tracing.
Pavlo Sdrakas, one of the owners of the restaurant, is still not sure whether he and his partners will open the restaurant for inside dining.
B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of rules,B次元官网网址� he said, pointing to the requirement to collect contact information. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 good, but it is going to slow down the process. ItB次元官网网址檚 never going to be the same where you can come in, sit down, eat and leave.B次元官网网址� He is also not sure whether his restaurant will be physically able to accommodate the new rules. B次元官网网址淲e are content just to be take-out for now, because everybody picks up and leaves. Most people just want to do that anyway.B次元官网网址�
Ultimately, Sdrakas expects things to be different and expects a learning curve. In fact, he has already had to adjust his practice. For example, he cannot take large orders after certain hours. Unless customers have called early enough, the restaurant wonB次元官网网址檛 be able handle to orders. B次元官网网址淚 can only make so much food in a half-hour span.B次元官网网址�
Jess Birring, owner of SidneyB次元官网网址檚 3rd Street Cafe, is also still trying to grapple with the rules as they exist for restaurants. This said, he considers them B次元官网网址渜uite fair,B次元官网网址� noting that the rules including the contact requirement aim to protect both staff and customers.
B次元官网网址淭he virus is not gone, and we certainly donB次元官网网址檛 want it to come back,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that the rules represent a good start. B次元官网网址淎nd we will see where we go from there.B次元官网网址�
Popular with locals as well as out-of-towners, the cafe is reopening Thursday after being completely closed for more than two months. Birring compares the process of reopening to launching a new business.
Looking back on the last month, Birring describes the closure as a necessity in specifically praising the work of provincial health officer Bonnie Henry.
He is glad to be back, but expects a slow start to business, while Powell expects to live with a lot of uncertainty in the coming months.
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