What’s on the menu for the P.A. hospitality industry as govt. ponders next COVID moves?

Dr. Shaqib Shahab said when bars and restaurants re-opened after the spring lockdown they went from 12 tables to four, for example, but some have now gone back to those original numbers.

“Some restaurants have now gone up to the same number of tables, you know, chair back to chair back. Even though the guidelines are being followed, being closer together can result in transmission especially when our community transmission rates are high,” Shahab said. “So, a lot of these guidelines need to reviewed, given our higher transmission levels and a lot of these sectors need to be slowed down.”

Moe asked those involved in the hospitality industry (as well as indoor recreation and faith based activities), to think about some suggestions they may have “as to how we can operate safer and call the Business Response Team (BRT) and suggest those.” Those contact details are: Toll Free 1-844-800-8688 or email: Supportforbusiness@gov.sk.ca.

Take-out vs walk-in

Meanwhile, Harry Rai, the owner-operator of Spice Trail restaurant in Prince Albert said he was not necessarily opposed to the walk-in aspect of restaurants being shut down for a period.

“Some might say it’s not right, it will kill restaurants, but at least with take-out delivery you are not using resources like staff and they can stay at home. I understand servers will not be getting paid… but we’re all in this together.”

Rai also called for all venues and all stores, even the bigger ones, to have mandatory contact tracing such as a visitor’s book.

“That way if it’s mandatory it will take a huge strain off the system when trying to contact trace and if people expect that when they go to a restaurant or grocery store, that won’t come as a shock and they won’t be offended,” he said.

Hold businesses to account

Steve McLellan, the CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, told paNOW having visitor’s books at all stores was not practical and encouraged the public to sign up for the federal Canada contact tracing app instead.

He supports the latest government move to masking in all indoor spaces as opposed to the possible alternative of widespread business closures and said society either paid the price for combatting COVID-19 now or later.

“For those businesses that have found a way to pivot and do far more take-out, we applaud them. Yes, it does impact some service staff but there are support programs for them,” he said.

But McLellan added the public needs to do their part.

“When we do look for dinner, we should order in more often and we should be generous and tip those at the door more than we would normally.”

And he said consumers had a key role to play in making sure everyone was behaving responsibly.

“Saskatchewan businesses are working hard to follow the rules and if you see one that isn’t then don’t give them your business; go somewhere else,” he said. “Hold us to it, make sure we’re following the rules, because if we don’t more stringent measures will be coming and we don’t want that.”

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow

by Glenn Hicks

What’s on the menu for the P.A. hospitality industry as govt. ponders next COVID moves?

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