Guarded optimism as restrictions are loosened

For restaurants and business groups alike, the news of soon-to-come relaxed public health measures is finally a sliver of good news.

Come Thursday, capacity restrictions will be lifted across the board, alongside the return of dancing and mingling at restaurants, barring masks are worn, and everyone is fully vaccinated.

Executive Director of the Downtown Kelowna Association Mark Burley told Kelowna10 he’s thrilled for all those who will benefit from the lifted restrictions.

“For our restaurants, it’s phenomenal idea to be able to go back to the way it was,” he said.

Over the past two years, rules have come, and rules have gone, but Burley said there is cautious optimism as downtown Kelowna gets ready for peak tourist season.

“We just hope we don’t have another heat dome or a whole bunch of smoke but that will help, and this will help,” he added.

Kelly O’Bryan’s Neighborhood Restaurant, which will be celebrating 35 years, is just one of many establishments eager to welcome back a full house.

Owner Jeffrey Blower said while it’s great they get to welcome everyone back, the biggest challenge that lies ahead will be trying to lure in some more employees.

“Just trying to get staff last year was even a challenge. … We all know how Kelowna is in the summer, it gets crazy, but we need staff,” he said.

Blower thinks this is finally the light at the end of the tunnel.

“We’re just happy to have the doors open. That’s what we’ve been trying to do, keeping our staff employed. We’ve taken lots of hits, but we’ve adapted,” he said. “Luckily, we’ve been around a long time. We’ve had a lot of regulars. Loyal customers kept us going so we’re really excited about opening.”

The government said a decision on masking and vaccine passports will be looked at again on March 15 and again by April 12.

Latest numbers

B.C. is reporting 750 new cases of COVID-19. There are 762 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 (25 fewer than Tuesday) and 121 are in intensive care (three fewer than Tuesday). In the past 24 hours, 11 new deaths have been reported,

In the Interior, there were 277 new cases with one new death. There are 164 people in hospital (the same number as Tuesday), and 19 in intensive care (two more than Tuesday).