'I'm more afraid of the government than Omicron:' Ottawa business owners react to new restrictions

As Ontario prepares to move back to a partial lockdown, businesses are dealing with a far too familiar feeling of frustration.

Barely one step into the new year, Ontario is taking at least two steps back.

"It feels like a really hard gut punch,” said Johnny Bonney, general manager of the King Eddy in the ByWard Market. “You just have all the air sucked out of the room. It's frustrating, it's embarrassing, it's maddening, it's sad...I'm at a loss of words that we're right back to where we started.”

Restaurants like the King Eddy are being forced to close their doors to indoor dining, pivoting back to takeout only.

"At this point, I'm more afraid of the government than Omicron," Bonney said.