VIDEO: Hair salons, gyms and dine-in restaurants start to reopen

| May 19, 2020 in Video

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You can get your haircut in a salon, have a workout at a gym and then sit down for a meal and a drink today. Phase 2 of the coronavirus restart is here.

"There's masks required for the stylists as well as for customers," said Paul Baumback at the Willow Park location of Great Clips Hair Salon.

Photo Credit: NowMedia

But it hasn't been easy for companies like Baumback's. He said 30% of his staff didn't feel safe returning to work.

"And we're trying to make sure we're totally safe as much as we can be," he said, showing us a thick manual on how to keep his workplace safe during the pandemic.

Photo Credit: NowMedia

The neighbouring Letaya Salon also opened today, to the relief of owner Harmeet Grewal. "If it had been two months more then my bank account would be nothing," said Grewal.

Among the first gyms to open is Kelowna's TWP Fitness. They've removed some equipment, and they're asking people to book ahead to keep to a safe number of customers at any one time. 

Photo Credit: NowMedia

"We've blocked-off anything that can't be sanitized," said Co-owner Ashley Kolar. "We've blocked-off every second piece of equipment," she explained. 

Even as BC enters this phase of the restart plan, BC's top doctor is urging caution with the possibility in mind, that it may not turn out as well as is hoped. “Yes, we’ll be planning for it," she said. "We’ll be adjusting for it, and adapting as we go forward." 

Henry said it will be two to four weeks before the impact of these reopenings is understood.

Among the restaurants and pubs, many remained closed today, but Memphis Blues on Bernard Avenue is among those to resume table service. "Essentially we're operating at half capacity," said owner Andre Thomas.

Photo Credit: NowMedia

"We also seat alternating tables. We have five booths," he explained. "and we're only seating obviously three of the five booths so there's plenty of space."

Photo Credit: NowMedia

At Kelly O'Bryans, owner Jeff Blower was wearing a big smile today. "Open for table service, the cold beers are back, the patio is back, everybody is happy," he said. 

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