Businesses excited to reopen for the summer after several closures
Many businesses in Manitoba are excited to reopen for the summer after several pandemic-related closures.
Pasquale's Italian Ristorante decided to temporarily close the day after Mother's Day, which is around the time a number of new restrictions came into effect. The restaurant reopened Wednesday to once again offer pickup, delivery, and curbside.
"We're happy to be back after a month, and to get the announcement of the reopening on Saturday, our timing has been impeccable," said owner Joe Loschiavo.
"We're excited to be back and to get back into operations and get our staff back into work."
On Wednesday, the province announced it would be starting its reopening plan early after hitting the necessary vaccine benchmarks. As part of the plan, which goes into effect Saturday, restaurants and bars across Manitoba will be allowed to welcome customers back.
Outdoor dining can resume at 50 per cent capacity with up to eight people per table from different households regardless of immunization status. Indoor dining is capped at 25 per cent and groups must be from the same household unless they are fully vaccinated.
"That's still going to be up to debate on how we're supposed to be policing that," said Loschiavo.
"We know it's already a lot of strain on businesses to be taking the names and registering that information. That was a problem last time, and to police that."
Immunization cards are now available for fully vaccinated Manitobans. Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said an app will be available later this week in order to check records digitally.
"It simply will show the person's name and either a green check mark: fully vaccinated or an X: no records found," said Dr. Roussin. "Nothing is stored or anything like that, so there will be a way to verify people's vaccine status."
Under the reopening plan, personal services like salons, estheticians, and spas can also reopen to 50 per cent capacity on an appointment only basis.
"Unfortunately, this is something we've gotten good at," said Jeff Mayo, Thermea's general manager.
"During our last opening, from the time the announcement came out to the time that we were ready to reopen was 53 hours. We're probably going to be around that same time frame."
Thermea will reopen Saturday morning, but because pools are only allowed to operate at 25 per cent capacity, it will reopen below that level in order to avoid a wait to get into the pool.
Mayo said Thermea has been closed for six of the last 12 months on and off, and this reopening plan is welcome news.
"I'm confident that Manitobans are doing the right thing and that this will be the last closure for all businesses in the province, who are just going to be stronger for it," Mayo said.
The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce supports the cautious reopening approach, which allows businesses that have been closed with zero revenues to reopen and rehire staff.
It's encouraging Manitobans to continue to get vaccinated in order to allow for businesses to reopen at higher capacity levels, and is also encouraging the public to be patient with businesses as they reopen.
"It's not as simple as unlocking the doors and turning on the lights," said the chamber.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.