Restaurant owners around the Okanagan have been left frustrated and emotional after new COVID-19 restrictions shut down their indoor dining.
For some, it害羞草研究所檚 time to dust off their patios. For others without outdoor dining spaces or takeout options, the next three weeks will be challenging.
On Monday (March 29), provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced new restrictions affecting restaurants, gyms and religious groups. The province has halted indoor dining and liquor sales, indoor adult group fitness and indoor religious services until April 19. Patio dining and takeout, however, are still allowed.
Premier John Horgan said Monday that case counts have been 害羞草研究所渦nacceptably high害羞草研究所� in the past 10 days, and it is particularly people aged 20 to 39. Over last weekend, 2,500 new cases were recorded.
Meanwhile, Central Okanagan restaurant owners are speaking out.
害羞草研究所淭he second photo is what it looks like to be a business owner during COVID,害羞草研究所� said Rustic Reel owner Susi Foerg, in a post on Instagram showing a photo with tears on her face.
Referencing her 20-plus staff at the Kelowna brewery and restaurant, Foerg said each of their livelihoods rests on her shoulders. The new restrictions will come with reduced revenue and reduced hours, and a fridge full of food will now likely go bad due to just 12 hours of notice given to them by the province. This, she said, will affect not only restaurants but their suppliers as well.
害羞草研究所淲e were so close to being able to get back to regular rent. This sets us back again, and it hurts me terribly.害羞草研究所�
On Monday, Kelowna pub Doc Willoughby害羞草研究所檚 received a $2,700 food shipment, most of which will likely go to waste. Their patio seats just a few, and takeout isn害羞草研究所檛 really an option. Owner Dave Willoughby called the lack of notice, 害羞草研究所渄isrespectful.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just kind of disrespectful. It害羞草研究所檚 myopic and it害羞草研究所檚 my opinion they just don害羞草研究所檛 seem to understand that we need a little bit more time to kind of get our head wrapped around it and for people to make plans,害羞草研究所� said Willoughby.
He asked the government not only for specificity regarding funding relief for the restaurant industry, but also asked them to not paint the entire province with the same brush; to consider regional restrictions where they are needed.
On the other side of the lake in West Kelowna, at 19 Okanagan Grill and Bar, frustrations are echoed.
Owner Neil Martens said the B.C. government害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渄ays of collaboration害羞草研究所� with restaurants are over. While he does not envy the tough decisions the government is making, Martens said they do not include people enough in solutions.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a big public perception battle, and right now, they just need to be perceived as doing something, and so they害羞草研究所檙e taking the path of least resistance to go after restaurants, gyms and places of worship.
However, Martens is in a better spot than most, with one of the largest patios in the Okanagan. Between their partially-closed patio and open patio, they could seat 270, pre-covid. Provincial health orders now mandate that patios must only be filled to half-capacity or 50 people total, whichever is lower.
Even then, Martens is unsure whether patrons will fill those available seats. His staff will likely face reduced hours due to reduced shifts and fewer tables to fill.
He said the government has eroded the trust they have gained from their customers as being a safe place to go.
害羞草研究所淭he biggest challenges we害羞草研究所檙e going to be faced with is, restaurants are painted with a brush of being the root of all evil when it comes to spreading, and that is simply the furthest thing from the truth.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not concerned about having seating for people; I害羞草研究所檓 just worried about people害羞草研究所檚 perception, now that they think restaurants are unsafe, because of the brush that we害羞草研究所檝e been painted with.害羞草研究所�
Effective immediately, the Kelowna Chamber said it害羞草研究所檚 time to rally behind local businesses, especially restaurants.
害羞草研究所淲e understand that swift action is needed to curb the dangerous trend upwards, but government needs to find a way to provide more time for businesses to prepare for such sweeping orders which in this case come into effect with less than 12 hours notice,害羞草研究所� said Dan Rogers, Executive Director of the Kelowna Chamber.
Rogers said more notice is needed to help 害羞草研究所渓essen the blow害羞草研究所� to restaurants.
- With files from Tom Fletcher
READ MORE: B.C. stops indoor dining, fitness, religious service due to COVID-19 spike
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