Local businesses brace for impact as COVID restrictions set in
CTV
Businesses in London, Ont. find themselves bracing for impact once again, as the province moves to put new restrictions in place to fight the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Businesses in London, Ont. find themselves bracing for impact once again, as the province moves to put new restrictions in place to fight the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19.
“We’re throwing every special,” said Jim Ferriera, who owns Old East 765, a neighbourhood pub in the heart of London’s old east village.
He said they’re pulling out all the stops for the last day and a half of business before lockdown.
“Every food special, every beverage special you can think of because we’ve done a beer order, we’ve done a liquor order, we’ve done a food order. And everything here is fresh, so we need to, like, go through that,” Ferriera explained.
Under the province’s modified step two of re-opening, restaurants and bars once again find themselves in the position of having to close.
As of Wednesday, no indoor dining will be permitted for at least three weeks. Also forced to shut down are gyms, sports and recreation centres.
“I believe that we’re as safe as you can get,” said GolfLondon.ca owner operator Johann Kinting in reaction to the restrictions. “That makes me feel like I’m on the defensive and I’m the super-spreader, and that’s why they’re shutting us down. The small businesses are not the super-spreaders, it’s super-collectives attendance at facilities.”