THUNDER BAY - The extension of the lockdown in Northern Ontario for at least another two weeks will be difficult for the business community, but city officials and business leaders say from a health perspective, it is necessary.
The provincial government announced on Thursday that seven northern health units will remain under lockdown until at least Jan. 23. Schools will return to in-person learning on Jan. 11 in northern school boards.
“They are concerned with numbers,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro. “From a Thunder Bay perspective, we are probably one of the highest units in Northern Ontario. Other units are lower and are included in the lockdown so it is understandable that we would be as well.”
The lockdown was first put in place on Dec. 26 and was to last two weeks in the north and 28 days in southern Ontario. Since the lockdown went into effect, Ontario has reported record numbers of daily new cases and a record high number of deaths at 89 on Thursday.
“We have to hope that at some point we see a consistent drop in numbers. This is the goal,” Mauro said.
“There was a concern the Christmas holidays and the gatherings associated with that might lead to a spike in numbers. There will be a lag in those numbers on whether or not they increase as a result of the Christmas holiday season. Perhaps it is because of that lag that they feel is the appropriate course of action.”
The Thunder Bay District has seen a decrease in the number of active cases over the past several weeks, but Dr. Janet DeMille, medical officer of health with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, recommended the district remain under lockdown because she’s concerned the area could see another surge in cases.
And while the hope is the number of daily cases will go the business community will face challenges with the extended lockdown.
“From a health perspective, this make sense, but certainly it’s a worry for businesses,” said Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
“It is very short notice that they will have to stay shutdown for longer and I know a lot of businesses were preparing staffing and other things for next week, but it’s another roll back again.”
Traditionally the period directly after the holiday season can be slower for businesses, but things do tend to pick up again by mid-January.
Robinson said there are provincial and federal supports for businesses facing challenges during COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Now that we are adding another two weeks, this would be a time when businesses would start getting busier again. It will definitely have an impact. The doubling of the expected lockdown will be a significant difference,” she said.
“It’s going to have a lot more impact on business owners and revenue so I’m sure business owners will be looking at those programs to see how they can get as much supports as possible to get through this.”
It will also depend on the public continuing to support local businesses that still offer services through curbside pickup and delivery.
“We continue to hope people do everything they can to support our business community for the next two weeks,” Mauro said, but added that the best way to support the business community is getting our COVID-19 numbers down.
“We can’t disconnect the two. If we are concerned about the business community and we all are, we have to get the numbers down,” he said. “If the numbers stay at a rate where the province will continue with lockdowns, we will not be able to get the businesses open and support them more broadly.”
