Lockdown lets up as Phase 2 begins

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This article was published 31/05/2020 (2099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the first time in weeks it will almost seem normal as the province allows — with restrictions — Manitobans to eat inside restaurants or have a drink inside a bar, to work out at gyms or relax in a spa, go for a swim, or just have their nails done or get a new tattoo.

Monday is the second stage of the provincial government’s gradual reopening of Manitoba’s businesses and services after weeks of taking measures against the spread of COVID-19 by only allowing essential services, and almost a month since the first stage’s implementation saw restaurants allowed to open their patios to half capacity and stores to reopen to half their customers.

It means that for the first time since March, members will be lifting weights at the city’s two Brickhouse Gyms.

But owner Paul Taylor said members will notice a difference even before they come it. That’s because only half the normal number of members can enter the gym to work out at any time and they have to pre-register for their one hour and 15 minute time slots before they get there.

And, once the member gets to either of the gym’s two locations, they’ll find they already have to be dressed to work out — the shower and locker rooms are closed — and they’ll be given a spray bottle to sanitize the equipment.

“You could call this a labour of love because it is love because our labour costs are doubling,” Taylor said chuckling.

“But we have to do this because we want to eradicate this (virus) so we can go back to normal.”

It is all part of the province’s Restoring Safe Services plan, what is called its pandemic and economic roadmap for recovery.

Last week, Premier Brian Pallister announced that because the spread of the virus has been so low — Sunday’s latest report showed one new case of COVID-19, no one in hospital or intensive care, and only 10 active cases — it was time to move into the second phase of the gradual reopening

Taylor said Brickhouse staff will be cleaning and sanitizing the location, but members will also have to do their part while working out.

“Members will spray down the equipment before use, wait 15 seconds, towel it off, use the equipment, then spray it again, wait 15 seconds, and wipe it down,” he said.

Restaurants, after weeks of relying solely on take-out, delivery and curbside pick-up service, have been able to open their patios, or apply to use temporary ones, to half their normal number of patrons in recent weeks.

Starting today, they can again welcome customers through their doors to sit down — but only 50 per cent of the number they would normally serve and with tables two metres from each other.

Joe Loschiavo, owner of Pasquale’s Italian Ristorante on Marion Street, said he will be ready today.

“We’re excited — it’s good to get our staff back full time,” Loschiavo said.

“The public has been so supportive to us and they are happy to be out… we’re trying to get everything up to code and get it all set up. We’re getting everything at a safe distance.

“It’s hard because we’re also operating our patio while getting ready to open our dining room.”

Loschiavo said one of the toughest things was to figure out where to put the tables and chairs they can’t use at this time.

“A dining room wouldn’t look good if you just stacked tables and chairs at the side,” he said.

“You don’t want it to look like a warehouse.”

Dave Thompson, owner of the Smitty’s Family Restaurant on Pembina Highway, said they won’t be ready today, but they are opening this week.

“We’re opening on Tuesday,” Thompson said. “We’ll take the extra day to get ready.

“We want to take extra care to make sure we’re ready. We know we’re going to have to explain everything about what we are doing and why to everybody.”

Thompson said they are putting their extra tables and chairs in a banquet room they won’t be using for awhile. But patrons will also see other differences the minute they sit down.

“The tables will be totally empty,” he said.

“We will give menus that are clean or can be thrown out. Any condiments we bring out, like peanut butter, will be individual ones you can take home or throw out. There won’t even be knives and forks on the table at first. We won’t leave anything on the tables.”

Meanwhile, church services have been able to allow 25 people inside for services — as long as people stayed two metres apart — and 50 people outdoors since May 21, but now the province will allow them to have an unlimited number of people at an outdoor service held in a parking lot as long as they stay inside their vehicles or stand outside on the driver’s side.

Lead pastor Wayne Bustard, of Wide World of Faith Church on Alexander Avenue, said because of gathering restrictions they did two services outside on Sunday where — in pre-COVID-19 times — they would only have one indoor service.

“We did them out in our compound so we could limit who comes in,” Bustard said.

“We are limited to 50 people outside, but there were some more people parked on the street and listening. We had our full sound system outside and our band. Everybody enjoyed it.”

Bustard said while he can appreciate why the province is ordering restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, he said churches could make sure people socially distanced inside with more than the 25 they are allowed now.

“Church people are very huggy and handshaking, but we could give everyone their own row of pews,” he said.

“There are some churches that can seat 1,000 so 25 people would get lost in there.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca