Battlefords residents and businesses are navigating Step 3 of the province's Reopening Roadmap. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Opening up

Battlefords residents adjust to Step 3

Jul 13, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Three days after the lifting of previous COVID-19 restrictions, the Battlefords is seeing a slow adjustment to routines slightly more familiar to a pre-pandemic society.

The third step of Saskatchewan reopening plan went into effect Sunday, highlighted by the removal of restrictions like limited gathering sizes and mask wearing. However, how it’s being implemented varies from building to building.

Battlefords Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak said businesses in town are excited to have the gathering restrictions lifted, but many are still having mask wearing for employees. However, most of these are larger retailers that exist as part of national chains.

“Until they can make a change for the rest of the country, that would explain why they are still wearing them here,” Machniak said.

Plexiglass, as well as other forms of PPE like sanitizer and gloves, remain at most businesses and city facilities. Machniak noted it’s unlikely businesses will get rid of them prematurely given the investment in PPE and the unknown of the fall season.

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“If there’s a flu season or [COVID-19] resurgence, I would think people would want to have stuff available,” she said. “Even at the chamber, we’re not wearing masks but we have an excess of masks, gloves, sanitizers and we’ll keep them here. I expect that we’ll work with whatever makes people feel most comfortable.”

Machniak said how well the economy recovers and norms like the return of large events is still unknown, though she’s gotten the impression that most people are looking for a return to regular activates during the week.

“I think it really is going to depend upon consumer confidence and consumer comfort level in getting back out again,” she said.

Residents returning to normal life

On Sunday and Monday, battlefordsNOW spoke with more than a dozen local residents (who chose to remain anonymous) on how they feel about the mandates lifting and what the first few days have been like. Most were happy that the mask and gathering size mandates were lifted, citing the desire to spend time with family. One man said he had been waiting for some time for this change as he and almost everyone in his family are double-vaccinated.

“It’s pretty exciting to not have to wear a mask,” he said. “Pretty happy that things are moving forward,”

For this man, the only slightly strange moment during the start of Step 3 was initially when he got together with friends at the end of the weekend. However, that quickly gave way to joy.

“Not having to worry about proximity or number of people there, yes, it was quite good,” he said.

In a non-scientific poll on battlefordsNOW, 57 per cent said they are excited to not have to wear a mask anymore, while 30 per cent were not yet comfortable with going out in public without a mask on. Another 13 per cent were still getting used to the change. On Monday, one woman that would’ve fit into that latter category said she’s no longer wearing a mask while going to shop at the grocery store, but has felt strange while doing so.

“I don’t know why, it just feels off,” she said.

An elderly woman, who was also shopping on Monday, still had a mask on while heading into the store. She said she isn’t planning on taking it off in public right now.

“Better safe than sorry,” she said.

When asked on how she felt interacting with people who aren’t masked, she said she hasn’t had any uncomfortable interactions and has no hesitation in having them.

“I figure people have the right to make their own decisions,” she said. “Had a few when you were supposed to wear a mask and people were being sneaky about not wearing them, but nothing now.”

Saskatchewan has seen a drop in the daily average of new cases of COVID-19, with the latest seven-day figure at 43 (or 3.5 per 100,000). As of July 12, there are 397 active cases remaining in the province.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW