From inside the tiny Hide and Seek coffee shop business continues amid a pandemic,
Located in Victoria’s Fairfield neighbourhood, the business has been operating under the province’s COVID-19 restrictions, since its opening in July.
Hide and Seek’s co-owner, Jamie Owens, said that she and her husband, Jesse, take the current restrictions in stride.
“We’ll do take out until it’s very clear that we can safely open and everybody in the community, and staff, and our families can be safe,” said Owens.
Following the province’s rules and restrictions is what the vast majority of people across B.C. have been doing since last March.
But Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, indicated on Monday during the first of two weekly briefings, that this may not be enough.
“We are at the threshold of where we were in late October and November when cases started rapidly escalating,” said Henry.
RELATED: B.C. reports 23 more COVID-19 cases in Island Health, restrictions extended until Feb. 5
B.C.’s Green Party leader, Sonia Furstenau, said it’s not average citizens that have to up their game, it’s the provincial government’s responsibility.
“People have made a lot of personal sacrifices,” she said.
Furstenau says there is more the government could do, including help for small businesses and schools.
“Teachers have been asking for a mask mandate in schools, for better ventilation in their classroom. For more ability for social distancing,” she said.
However, Henry has warned that B.C. is at a tipping point. With new COVID variants, and vaccine shortages causing concerns, she hinted that public health restrictions could be extended, or expanded unless COVID-19 case numbers decrease substantially.
“The public health restrictions in our province are dependent on what we all do now,” Dr. Henry said.
Since the public health orders include restrictions on social gatherings, and mandatory masks at all indoor public settings, many feel they are doing everything they can.
“I just follow the restrictions. I have my bubble. Wear my mask,” one woman told CHEK News.
“Personally I feel like I’m kind of doing everything the restrictions are asking right now,” said another woman.
Those trying to make a living by adapting to the current restrictions, like Hide and Seek Coffee’s owners say they hope things don’t get tougher.
“It wouldn’t be great. We know that we would have to do the best for the community and for the whole province,” Owens said.
The current public health orders expire Feb. 5.
This woman says she feels like she is doing everything the restrictions are asking her to do right now. (CHEK News)
Mary Griffin
