THUNDER BAY - With new cases of COVID-19 still being reported in the Thunder Bay District, the local business community is anxious that the region could be headed for another shutdown.
“As a BIA we are deeply concerned,” said Jim Comuzzi, president of the Waterfront BIA and owner of Rooster’s Bistro. “As we go through this holiday season, we are not trying to promote togetherness, we are trying to promote being apart. It’s a different situation. We are all looking at the future with question marks.”
According to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit there are 41 active cases of COVID-19 as of Monday in its catchment area. The majority of the new cases have been reported in the last two weeks.
The provincial government released its COVID-19 response framework earlier this month and updated the thresholds for moving to the various classifications as cases continue to sore in the province. The Thunder Bay district remains in the Green stage, or prevent.
But the business community is worried if the region moves into higher classifications that it could mean more restrictions or even shutdowns similar to what was experienced last spring.
“I would say there is a little bit of a heightened anxiety for business owners around the significant growth in cases and what that will mean for businesses moving forward,” said Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve already heard folks are going out a little less because of the changes in the area.”
The next stage of the province’s response framework is Yellow, or protect, which calls for strengthened measures, including limits on gatherings and capacity in restaurants and retail spaces.
Robinson said moving from the Green to Yellow classification wouldn’t be a major change for most businesses and would actually help inform the community that the situation is changing in the city.
“It sends a message that things are different than they were two weeks ago,” she said. “I think that would be a positive message as well to make sure we are all doing everything we can. If that is what the health unit decides, I’m sure the businesses would be supportive of that because of the community messaging that would go with it.”
But questions remain on what the next several months will look like for local businesses, particularly with the holiday season just around the corner.
“It will be tough. Right now, in my experience at 50 per cent capacity isn’t working without the outdoor patios, but we won’t see that for the next seven or eight months,” Comuzzi said. “How do we get through these next seven or eight months?”
Comuzzi added that there haven’t been clear indications from the federal or provincial government on how they will help businesses navigate another shutdown.
“There are just so many questions and not enough answers,” he said.
And while many businesses have learned important lessons from the first shutdown, it doesn’t make the prospect of another round any more appealing.
“We have to be more conscious of our COVID protocols and it’s going to be a different way of going forward,” Comuzzi said.
“Employers have learned and put in place new things in their business to keep people safe,” Robinson added.
“Generally employers are feeling more comfortable with how to keep their customers safe and their staff safe. But it falls on the community to follow those protocols and for us all to work together to keep this from advancing anymore so we have to move into restricted zones from the health unit.”
Government programs do remain in place to help struggling businesses, Robinson said, including the wage subsidy, new rent subsidies, and changes to employment insurance.
“There will be supports available, the question is how to manage this as an employer and a business to keep as busy as you can, but doing everything you an to keep your customers and employees safe,” she said.
People are encouraged to support local businesses and if you are not comfortable going out more than necessary, to look at online options, which many local businesses have added since the onset of the pandemic.
“The Christmas season is coming up and we have some ideas for our downtown core that doesn’t require gatherings of people,” Comuzzi said.
“We have a lot of beautiful shops that we can shop online. I know a lot of restaurants and food establishments are adhering to the protocols with the utmost urgency. We will keep it local. We will do it with our own membership and hopefully we will come through this.”
