The Blue Grotto says the restrictions when it's been open have been killing owner David "Pup" Johnston (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

Dr. Henry says restrictions have helped flatten curve, Blue Grotto doesn’t want to re-open with them

Jan 14, 2022 | 4:18 PM

KAMLOOPS — Many restaurants, gyms, bars and nightclubs that have been forced to close since before christmas are nervously looking towards Jan. 18. It’s when the province will decide whether to lift the restrictions or extend them.

Dr. Bonnie Henry hasn’t said definitively the fate of the restrictions, but during her Friday briefing, she spoke about the current restrictions helping to flatten the curve a bit.

She doesn’t expect hospitalizations to drop until early February.

“We’re still at the point where our hospitalization rate is going up, so new hospitalizations is a concern,” said Dr. Henry. “And we need to understand who is it that’s being hospitalized and what can we do to try and effect that trajectory in the next few weeks.”

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Blue Grotto owner David “Pup” Johnston says whatever Dr. Henry decides, he doesn’t want to re-open his music venue until all restrictions are lifted.

“The restrictions were killing us. The no dancing, the no mingling. That’s the reason people come here is to dance and mingle and meet people and run into their old friends, their old high school buddies and have a couple drinks, and hug and drink and high-five — all those things you shouldn’t do during COVID,” he said. “We understand that. We understand that’s why people are coming to a place like this. If we can’t offer that, they’re not going to come.”