'It's just a sense of relief,' Barrie businesses prepare to reopen to in-store customers Friday
With just days to go until the province enters the first phase of its reopening plan, the Barrie Chamber of Commerce says getting to do so three days earlier than planned is "fantastic."
"You can just tell from the excitement from our restaurant owners with the patios starting to reopen," says Paul Markle, executive director of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce.
"It's just a sense of relief, sort of opening up that people are able to get to back to some sense of normal," Markle says.
While essential retail will see capacities set at 25 per cent, however, only 15 per cent will be allowed inside non-essential retail stores, and outdoor dining is limited, with four people permitted per table.
Markle says the businesses will have to "fight through" the next three weeks until the province enters phase two, adding "everyone will have to do their part," while hoping the Ford government reduces the timeframe between phases.
"We can't take the foot off the gas," he says.
"Things like the rapid screening program that we're involved in at the chamber, getting first doses out to those who don't have them, getting second doses into people that qualify and getting our younger generations vaccinated is going to be key to getting this under control and making sure than any variants don't get a foothold and that we continue to get close to back to reopening."
As of Tuesday, nearly 100 chambers across the province, including Orillia, Bradford, Clearview, and Barrie, have joined the rapid screening program. Collingwood is expected to come on board sometime this week.
Barrie implemented the program less than a week ago, and so far, more than 70 businesses have taken part in the free program, which is open to all businesses, not just chamber members.
The executive director believes the tests are a "game-changer" and says right now, the region is being "blanketed" with the free screens.
"It just adds that one layer of security into your protocols," says Markle.
"If your employees feel safe coming to work if your customers feel safe coming into your establishment, it builds confidence, and confidence is what we need."
For more information on the rapid test program, visit the Barrie Chamber of Commerce website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.