The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has a mostly positive view of the province's announcement regarding restrictions and vaccination projections. (Gov of SK media)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Possible hope

Battlefords Chamber pleased to see a pandemic roadmap from province

May 6, 2021 | 1:30 PM

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce was largely pleased with the announcement by the province of a three-phase plan for lifting restrictions this summer.

COO Linda Machniak said it was encouraging to have something for the public to have a sense of a timetable for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, she said this gives a sense of direction for businesses, allowing them to plan for the next few months. Step 2 of the plan, which has 70 per cent vaccination of residents aged 30 and older, would lift capacity thresholds on retail and personal care services, restaurants and bars.

“It gives them some hope for an opportunity to get reopened,” Machniak said.

The province is expecting to have step one begin by the end of the month and step three begin in July, though guidance on masking and gatherings by that period is still being developed. Machniak said some might argue the timing of each phase is somewhat progressive, but is hopeful that there will be a positive impact on businesses, especially recreation facilities and casinos.

“Let’s hope that we can meet those targets and the people of Saskatchewan can get vaccinated, so we can get reopened and move forward,” she said.

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Now that there’s a roadmap, even if many of the details are still being developed, Machniak said that businesses should adjust nicely, given their performance in following protocols throughout the pandemic. Having made the use of masks and other forms of PPE routine, she thinks much of those processes have become normal.

“I think it has become an everyday part of the process, as much as we may not like it,” she said.

And while there’s some reason for enthusiasm, Machniak warned against hoping for an imminent change back to pre-pandemic life. Even if the province is on track on vaccinations and COVID-19 numbers, there are currently no dates in mind for when masking and social distancing rules will change.

“It will be a while yet before the masks are gone,” Machniak said. “Some limits on some things will be with us for a while.”

battlefordsNOW also reached out to the Town of Battleford and the City of North Battleford for comment of the province’s plan but did not respond in time of publishing.

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