SYDNEY — Non-essential businesses are preparing to reopen with a new inventory of necessities — personal protective equipment.
Vallie’s Hair Shop reopens Friday in both its Glace Bay and Dominion locations. Owners Vallie Scattolon and his wife Corrine Scattolon said knowing it would be mandatory for their staff and clients to wear masks, which are difficult to obtain, they had 120 reusable ones made by Yvonne Kennedy, to be washed and disinfected after each use.
Clients are being told to bring one from home and if they don’t have one, one will be provided.
“It’s been a challenge to find them,” Corrine Scattolon said. "Everywhere you look now, everyone seems to have them.”
Some chairs have been removed to enable safe distancing and equipment will be sterilized after each use.
Vallie Scattolon said in the past a cape would be used on multiple clients, now a clean one must be provided for each customer.
Some disinfectants are still a challenge to find.
“I even bought a disinfectant machine and then they didn’t have any solution for it,“ he said adding, he has since located some.
With all the extra costs Scattolon says it will be challenging but he thinks there’s a grant coming out to help small businesses cope.
“With it or without it, it is expensive, but we have to do it and I’m going to do it and we’re there.”
ENSURING SAFETY
Bruce Meloney, owner of Rieker by The Shoe Tree on Charlotte Street in Sydney, opened Tuesday with new store hours of Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., which will remain in effect for the next few weeks.
Meloney said he has a good supplier in North Sydney, where he lives, and he finds the Home Hardware in North Sydney also carries necessary products.
“I have all the masks, gloves, sprays and Lysol wipes and the Plexiglass up.”
In the short term Meloney hasn’t had an issue finding face masks and hopes it won’t be an issue in the long term.
“They aren’t the ones the hospital is using but they are still a great quality that we would need,” he said. “We will have masks here and If anyone asks us to put them on, we would.”
The store has been reorganized to provide social distancing and three customers will be allowed in at a time.
Meloney said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stock has been limited but they still have a good supply.
He said only two of the store's seven employees can work at a time which is why they have changed the hours, to accommodate everyone. Each employee will work two days a week.
“If we don’t do the business or if we have to shut down again, I don’t want to hurt their CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit),” he said. “We’re going to make sure our customers get what they want, that customers and our staff is safe.”
Meloney said some people who are more concerned by the COVID-19 pandemic can still make private appointments to shop.
Although this all means extra costs, Meloney said he’s fine in the short term. He doesn’t know what may happen in the long term but he is just happy to be reopening.
“We’re being cautious, we’ll just absorb that as a cost of doing business,” he said. “That’s the only thing you can do.”
PPE PROTOCOL
Shannon Kerr, spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, said the IWK, EHS and the Nova Scotia Health Authority have their own policies in place for personal protective equipment, such as masks.
On April 14, a masking protocol was issued to homecare and community-care agencies, as well as long-term care and other care facilities. More information on the protocol and who it applies to can be found at https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20200413003.
In an email response to questions, Kerr said current public health guidance on the use of non-medical masks by businesses and members of the public is that it’s something that should be considered in situations where consistent physical distancing is not always possible.
“Businesses have the right to set policies for their operations, however operators should be aware that wearing a mask may not be appropriate for some individuals and, in such cases, consider alternatives where possible.”
Guidance around the use of non-medical masks for other sectors can be accessed at: https://novascotia.ca/reopening-nova-scotia/.
ACCESS TO PPE
The province has taken steps to ensure businesses have easier access to all personal protective needs.
Government spokesperson Marla MacInnis said as Nova Scotia businesses and organizations reopen, part of their return to work plans may require the use of personal protective equipment to protect employees and their customers.
In an email response to questions, MacInnis said a list of suppliers of PPE is now available and can be accessed at https://procurement.novascotia.ca//nova-scotia-together-find-suppliers.aspx.
“This is a way to assist businesses in making connections to vendors that have the goods that they need,” she said. “Government departments, the health-care system and other essential service providers are accessing PPE from the provincial stockpile through a separate system and supply for this purpose is in very good shape.”
FROM TAKEOUT TO DINE-IN
Angela Houston, owner of Talo Cafébar on Commercial Street, Glace Bay, says it has been a challenge securing personal protective equipment.
Talo Cafébar has been serving takeout since May 9 so there were many things they didn’t need. However as of Friday they will be reopening for dine-in service at reduced hours from 12-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 12-8 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday. They are closed Mondays.
Houston said they acquired masks from the Savoy Theatre.
“We will have to source more things now for our staff and our customers (to be) more comfortable sitting in the dining room with a mask.”
As a result Houston said they will definitely be looking to source more gloves and masks and other items over the coming weeks.
“The main thing for us is making sure our customers have the confidence that they can feel safe to dine with us,” she said. “It’s definitely a need.”
Although there’s an extra cost, Houston said it’s a necessity and the Savoy provided masks at no cost, which helped.
“There is an expense but our staff needs to know that they are working in a safe environment and our customers need to feel safe,” she said. “It’s just the cost of doing business.”
Ordinary set up for 50 customers, safe distancing will bring it down to 20-25. In the summer months they hope to expand their patio to accommodate more diners and maintain social distancing.
“It’s going to be a challenge not to have full capacity, but I think everyone’s working together to try and make it work for the sector,” she said. “It’s the new normal.”
In the meantime Houston said they are excited, miss their regulars and serving everybody who comes through.
As well the family staff atmosphere has been missed while working with a server in front and a cook in the back with the takeout.
“It’s exciting to be getting back to a family environment that we’re used to.”
