Personal services such as hair salons must reduce capacity to 50 per cent by Saturday. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

new restrictions

Many tri-community businesses already operating under 50 per cent capacity

Dec 16, 2020 | 4:35 PM

New public health measures starting tomorrow and rolling out until Christmas Day won’t have a large effect on some tri-community businesses.

larongeNOW reached out to several business owners who reported they are already operating at 50 per cent capacity or less. Beginning Dec. 19 personal care services must reduce customer occupancy by 50 per cent with retail services following suit Dec. 25.

Penny’s Hair Design Ltd. Owner Penny Schooley said she spoke with the fire and health inspectors and she’ll basically carry on as is.

“We’re really making sure people come at the time of their appointment, so there are no extra people around,” she said. “Our waiting room is going to be closed, so basically the people who are in the salon are going to be in our stylist chairs. That’s kind of the changes that will happen on Saturday.”

When customers enter the salon, they must wear a mask, use hand sanitizer and follow social distancing guidelines. Schooley explained they’ve been following those protocols since the business was permitted to reopen earlier this year and at this point it’s become normal.

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“You just get so used to wearing a mask when you’re working that it’s not a big deal anymore, and all the extra cleaning we do to make sure everyone else stays safe,” she said. “It’s just what we do. We’ve adjusted quite well.”

Throughout the upcoming holiday season, Penny’s Hair Design will be open for three days between Dec. 25 and Jan. 4. Moving into 2021, she’s hopeful there won’t be anymore restrictions on businesses and it’s important for her employees and customers that the salon remains open.

“Hopefully with the vaccination coming soon, I know it’s going to take a while, but at least you can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Schooley said.

As of Dec. 17, all private dwelling indoor gatherings are limited to immediate households only. Single individuals (a person who resides on their own) are permitted to meet with one household of less than five, which must be always the same household. All private and public outdoor gatherings are prohibited, except persons in groups of 10 or less may briefly meet to exchange greetings and must ensure physical distancing between households is maintained.

Co-parenting arrangements are permitted to continue. Caregivers, support personnel and tradespersons are permitted and are not included when determining the number of people in a private gathering.

On Dec. 19, casinos and bingo halls must closed and, on Dec. 25, large big box retailers, as defined in the public health order, must reduce to 25 per cent of capacity.

That’s in addition to other public health orders that can be found here.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno