When COVID-19 first hit our province here in Vancouver, British Columbia, our Government was left with the difficult decision to make as to whether or not businesses should remain open to the public. As the number of COVID cases began to rise quite rapidly across our province, it became clear that the only way to slow down the transmission of the coronaviruses was to enforce a state wide lockdown, request that we all start practicing social distancing, and self isolate for two weeks if experiencing flu like symptoms.
It has now been 4 months since our province declared it’s first state of emergency. Since that time, the entire world has changed dramatically. People have lost their lives. People have lost their jobs. People have lost their homes. And People have lost their businesses.
What Are Essential Services?
The Public Safety of Canada defines essential services as: “Services and functions which are considered essential to preserving life, health and basic societal functioning. These include but are not limited to, the functions performed by first responders, health care workers, critical infrastructure workers (ig hydro and natural gas), and workers who are essential to supply critical goods such as food and medicines.”
To my dismay, when I first looked up what was in fact deemed as an “Essential Service” a few months back, neither exercising or working out in gyms were listed. At first, I must admit that I was appalled to find out that exercising on a regular basis was not considered essential. And then I became enraged when I found out that liquor stores were permitted to remain open because they were actually considered to be an essential service.
However looking back at how everything has unfolded these past few months, I completely understand and appreciate the steps that were taken to help keep our number of COVID Patients from becoming too high so that our hospitals were not overwhelmed.
With all that said, as we continue to tread lightly through Phase 3 of our Re-Opening Phase here in Vancouver, I can’t help but wonder if it’s too late for many businesses. Most offices still remain empty. Gyms and Salons can only allow a set a number of people in their establishments at any given time. And restaurants are faced with the challenge of spreading out their seating and maintaining 6 feet of separation between clients and staff, all while trying to serve both food and beverages.
How long can this last?
One Man’s Opinion
I have conflicting thoughts with regards to how we as a society should move forward through this global pandemic. The business owner in me wants all our clients back and our gym operating at full capacity once again. The son, and friend to some who are severely immune compromised, wants to tread-lightly during this re-opening phase in fear that a rushed opening could lead to disastrous results. The pessimist in me fears for the second wave due to arrive this coming Fall Season, and therefore doesn’t see much light or hope at the end of this dark and dismal tunnel. And the optimist in me believes that we will all pull through this together and come out stronger than before.
But what happens if and when this second wave does arrive this coming Fall Season?
Will we go back into another lockdown?
Will people have to self isolate once again?
Will businesses have to close their doors once more?
We see this happening across the United States of America right now. Are we next?
Will there be more businesses this time around that are considered to be “Essential”?
And could/should the gym be considered as one of those “Essential Services”?
Find out my thoughts and opinions next week!
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance