Calgary pubs and retail spaces grapple with rising COVID-19 cases ahead of holiday season

With activeCOVID-19 cases reaching an all-time high in Alberta, Calgary pubs and retail shops are grappling withtough choicesabout their businesses headed into the holiday season.

Last week, the province introduced heightened restrictions for pubs and restaurants for two weeks, between Nov. 16 and Nov. 27, that included a 10 p.m. ban on liquor sales and a mandatory closing time of 11 p.m.

Premier Jason Kenney also warned that harsher measures would be put in place should numbers not flatten.

Chris Hewitt, owner of Dickens Pub in Calgary, said he expected the new rules, "to be a bit more strict or a bit more far-reaching."

After thinking it over, he announced Monday via Facebook that the restaurant and music venue would be voluntarily closing for two to three weeks.

It does get to a point where you reach a level of personal responsibility."- Chris Hewitt, owner of Dickens Pub

"I rapidly realized that having us close a bit earlier, all that's really going to do was drive people into house parties. And sure enough, that is exactly what we saw on the weekend here," he said.

"It does get to a point where you reach a level of personal responsibility and it just didn't seem like it was something that was as comfortable or as safe as when we first reopened in September."

Hewitt said it is "unfortunate timing" given the holidays but that "this is the way things are now."

"Hopefully we will see ... maybe other measures will come into place that will help to drive these numbers back down," said Hewitt. "And I just felt like I wanted to do what I could. In the meantime, that's what's right for me and for my staff and for the customers."

Ben Leon, cofounder and managing director at The Dandy Brewing Company, said he wants more clarity about what is to come.

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Some operators are concerned if something isn't done to reduce sky rocketing COVID numbers now that their businesses will suffer more in the long run.

"I think at least for our industry, both with the restaurant and beer before, we don't really have time to wait and see."

Leon saidthey began noticing a drop-off in customers when new daily COVID-19 cases were around 500 to 600 people.

But he said despite Christmas party revenues not promised, their "silver lining" was families continuing to go out over the holidays.

He sees the 10 p.m. alcohol cut-off rule as a precursor to larger restrictions like closing in-person dining.

Leon saidthey are looking at increasing their delivery options should stricter measures be implementedby the province, but that hangs on many unknown factors.

"Just rip the Band-Aid off, we'll adapt," said Leon.

Annex Ales Project, which sells beer and soda in their taproom, said they are also weighing their short-term options should there be stricter rules about operating.

"We have done our utmost to ensure that our space is clean and safe, but we do agree that more drastic measures may be necessary," said Erica O'Gorman, founder of Annex Ales, in an emailed statement.

O'Gorman wrote they are considering starting up a home delivery service like they did in months previous.

"If a circuit breaker lockdown were to happen, we are considering re-mobilizing our home delivery system to encourage our community to stay home and stay safe," she said in part.

"Although small businesses may be forced to pivot again, a lockdown closer to the holidays will greatly impact those that rely on this critical revenue-making period to get through January and February. "

The owner of Calgary pub Ship and Anchor is considering shutting down for New Year's Eve because they fear customers' behaviour will be too hard to monitor.

Retail impact

At a time when Steeling Home, a general home goods store,would typically be hiring more staff to help with the holiday rush, the store's owner said the store ispurposefully understaffed.

"We don't know what's going to happen. We don't know what to tell our staff," said Jennifer Leblond.

Leblond saidif there was another lockdown her store would likely manage but she would have to reduce staff.

"It doesn't mean game over, I mean, we will be here," she said.

"It will probably affect my staff ... if they're not working here, theywon't havea job."

During the strict lockdown on retail spaces earlier in the year, Leblond said they moved about 80 per cent of the store's stock online and began relying on online shopping.

She said her store will takecues from Dr. Deena Hinshaw, and she expects that stricter rules about operating will be put in place after Christmas.

"They know what our hospitals are capable of and they know what they're doing more than I know. All I'm trying to do is balance what I hear, trying to do the best on my end," she said.

Jim Campbell, who owns Ingear Store in Kensington, said if stricter measures are impending he would rather they come sooner.

"If they're gonna shut it down, shut it down hard and get it done before Christmas because Christmas is critical for us," said Campbell.

He said he would rather deal with a short-term lockdown than potentially missthe business that comes at Christmastime.

"You don't wanna be shut down and slowed down in December that's critical for most businesses."

As of Monday, the province reported a record-breaking10,031 active cases of the illness.

When asked about the possibility of a 28-day lockdown on Monday, Dr. Deena Hinshawsaid that it remains to be seen whether current provincial measures will be effective within the next one to two weeks.

"The question of what happens after that time period, again, rests in all of our hands," said Hinshaw.

"And of course, we did put in additional measures last week. And the question of whether or not those measures will be sufficient to bend that curve down so that we do not, again, impact the health-care system."

She emphasized that should COVID-19 cases in hospital continue to increase therewill have to be "tradeoffs" in the health-care system.

"If we see increasing COVID cases going into hospital, the only way to provide the space to care for them is to stop doing other services. Sothere is always some degree of tradeoffs and Albertans who need other care could end up having their health conditions worsen as those COVID cases rise," she said.

"These are all the reasons why coming together over this next time period, pulling together to do our part, to stop community spread, to bring those numbers down so that we don't see an ongoing rise in cases. Again, that's in our hands. And if the current measures are not sufficient, then additional ones will have to be considered."