THUNDER BAY - With Northwestern Ontario permitted to reopen more businesses and services on Friday, public health and city officials say the region is ready to enter the next phase.
“We are prepared,” said Dr. Janet DeMille, chief medical officer of health. “I think it is the right time. I think this is the right step the government is taking to allow us to enter the next stage. There are still many limits.”
On Monday the provincial government announced 24 regions would be permitted to enter stage two of the three-stage framework for reopening the economy.
More businesses, including outdoor dining at restaurants and bars, as well as hair salons and barber shops, will be able to reopen with strict guidelines in place to protect workers and customers.
Restrictions have also been eased on social gatherings and now 10 people or fewer are permitted to get together.
DeMille said being able to get back to some sense of normalcy is actually important for a community’s health.
“It is stressful for many,” she said. “This will give us an opportunity to get out more, to do the things we enjoy and are meaningful for us and our families and have more interactions with one another. There is a lot of benefits for us as individuals, families, and a community for us to be able to do this.”
Even though restrictions are being lifted to some degree, people are reminded to continue to practice all public health guidelines.
“The reality is there is still a pandemic,” DeMille said. “What is coming down the road in the fall could be quite difficult again.”
“I think we did very well in the first wave in terms of how we have been able to manage. We all did that collectively. I think that’s important to recognize. That gives me a lot of reassurance as we enter more uncertainty in the coming months, especially in the fall, which is when I am particularly worried about it.”
But for people in the community now, particularly business owners, the announcement on reopening is welcome news.
“We are all looking for that spark that is going to drive some traffic down to our waterfront district,” said Jim Comuzzi, chair of the Waterfront District BIA. “I think people want to get out. With all the rules in place and the social distancing protocols adhered to, they want to get out and interact with other people. This is a good opportunity that we can at least start the second phase.”
Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro agrees that this is an important step for local businesses, but he is reminding the people of Thunder Bay that there are strict guidelines in place that need to be followed.
“Obviously the guidelines will dictate the way that they can open and their ability to recoup some of the business,” he said. “Certainly for the businesses it is a good step. The guidelines do speak to the seriousness of the situation we are still in. Hopefully people don’t see this as we are back to where we were three months ago. We are still in a very difficult circumstance. Be cautious.”
Mauro added that the city has been in a very fortunate circumstance due to our isolation and the dedication of the people in the region following public health guidelines.
“But at the same time we know it can spring back up,” he said. “It’s good news for the business owners and good news for the economy generally. But we still need to be mindful of the social distancing.”
Thunder Bay City Council will also be looking at reducing the red tape to allow more restaurants and bars to open outdoor patios for customers.
This could include waiving fees or closing off sections of a street or using parking lots or spaces for outdoor patios.
“That piece ties into this, allowing the to be outside, to take customers who can sit down, but it might be enough to help some of them get over the finish line until we get out of this,” Mauro said.
“The city we have been working very closely with us,” Comuzzi added. “They are on board. The red tape is not going to be as red as it used to be. I think they will come together. I think they see the importance of what we are trying to do in the downtown core.”
