Opening Up … With Some Restrictions

Like you, I’m so excited at the prospect that we’re getting the okay to begin the process of opening up places of worship and some retail stores. According to Dale Dawson of the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. and owner of Montrose Gifts, “traditional shops can allow customers inside their business – with protocols in place.” He will be officially reopening to customers on Friday.

Coupled with other significant reopenings, like accessing beaches (though people can’t sit on the sand … yet) and the resumption of faith-based services (though with stringent restrictions), allowing merchants to open their doors to customers is a significant change. Hopefully most of these businesses will still be alive to open their doors; many restaurant owners are teetering on the edge of permanently closing their doors despite concerted efforts to financially support them during the COVID-19 crisis.

I know that CV Weekly has been blessed by the many individuals and businesses that have supported us during the pandemic. I’ve shared with you before the readers who want to ensure the ongoing printing and distribution of this community newspaper by “donating” to us. Though I know it has been challenging, some key advertisers have continued to promote their businesses in the CV Weekly, too. (Please take time to read and support each and every ad in this newspaper and, if possible, let these businesses know that their ad dollars have been well invested.) In response, CV Weekly has created for advertisers a “COVID Recovery Package” in the hope that we can help business owners get the word out that they’re open (or opening soon) and ready for customers.

An unexpected change resulting from the pandemic is hospital visits. Initially, elective surgery was curtailed in preparation for an onslaught of COVID-19 patients inundating local hospitals. Whether or not that happened I can’t comment; however, what I do know is that as recently as 10 days ago, going to a hospital due to medical distress was “easy-breezy.” Someone close to me reported that when he went to a local hospital 10 days ago there was only one other person in the ER; last Friday he was the only one there who was having tests administered. Talk about a stress-free experience!

Of course, lighter traffic and empty and near-empty hospital ERs will pass. I am curious, though, to see if some remote working situations will continue; for some, working at home is much easier. As far as hospitals, as the number of elective surgeries increases, hospital staff – and hospitals – will be fuller again. 

Final thoughts: I have no understanding why nail and hair salons are not allowed to reopen. For example, the woman who runs the nail salon I go to is the only worker in the shop – it’s a one-woman shop – and she can easily control the number of people in her salon by locking the door as customers come and go. Making her (immaculate) business remain closed offers no obvious benefit and is doing irreparable damage to her livelihood.

Also, I understand the need for social distancing by those who live with or are around high-risk individuals. I am annoyed, though, that the people who live with or are around high-risk individuals are not given the freedom to dictate who should be around them. Do we really need the government to tell us that we can’t go to or attend a small get together? Aren’t we intelligent enough to know when we are either sick or at-risk so we’ll avoid getting together? And seriously – is it really necessary to have the government approve car parades to celebrate birthdays and/or other milestone events?

But don’t worry – I’ll still be seen around town wearing a mask.

  robin goldsworthy