Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

COVID-19

Kamloops businesses disappointed, not surprised by extended COVID-19 restrictions

Jan 8, 2021 | 4:42 PM

KAMLOOPS — The provincial health officer announced an extension of current COVID-19 restrictions Thursday (Jan. 8). The news was disappointing for local sectors currently struggling under the restrictions.

“The extension is obviously devastating for our local tourism economy here in Kamloops and of course across the province,” said Monica Dickinson with Tourism Kamloops. “What we’re seeing at our hotels in particular is our occupancy rates in the last couple of weeks have hit the same levels they did back in mid-March or April of last year.”

Non-essential travel and events are among the pleasures BC residents are asked to do without until at least February 5. This is hitting the tourism industry especially hard.

“All of the sectors are really feeling the pinch and the downturn now,” Dickinson said. “Continuing to support our food and beverage locations is definitely key. We’re also hearing that, you know, the culture and the arts and the heritage sector are also being hit hard. Many of our non-profits here, obviously funding is key for them to carry on and do the great work that they’re doing.”

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Sporting organizations are also affected by the extended restrictions. Curl BC has had to cancel the 2021 Scotties BC Women’s and Men’s Curling Championships, which were scheduled for later this month.

For some sports, modified training activities are permitted, but no games.

“No games are allowed to be played whatsoever right now,” said Missy Cederholm, executive director of Kamloops Youth Soccer Association, “so it’s just socially distanced training and focusing on the technical elements.”

KYSA indoor programs began on Monday and no changes are being made as a result of the restrictions.

“We had the programs already set in place and participants were aware that we would be running them with whatever restrictions were in place at the time, so whether that was contact play or socially distanced training, we did let everyone know that we would continue unless we were told that we needed to stop completely,” Cederholm said. Meanwhile, the business community is disappointed, but not completely surprised.

“For most industries there is a lull after Christmas anyways,” said Kamloops Chamber of Commerce President Tyson Andrykew. “People have spent their money, they had a busy holiday season for the most part, they’ve done their shopping. Most people will take a break and stay at home anyways and just kind of get back to work and focus on the new calendar year.”

Focusing on the future is about all some sectors can do.

“Our team is feverishly preparing for when that green light goes on,” said Dickinson. “We are working harder than ever before in above normal circumstances to ensure that we come out of the gates guns blazing.”