Can someone please provide me with an explanation as to why not all businesses that deal with the public at large have to follow the same guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19 or the manmade VOC?
From a business perspective, one of the most frustrating aspects of this Pandemic is the inconsistent enforcement between business sectors to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In early 2020, Home Depot, Walmart, and most grocery locations had dedicate staff spraying and wiping down the handles of all their shopping karts. More than a year later, have you noticed it now seems to be a hit-and-miss activity as apathy has set in. This is not the case with PSS (Personal Service Setting) businesses. PSS business encompasses hands-on services including hairdressing (salons), barbering, invasive procedures such as tattooing, piercing and other body modification, Spa’s (facials, waxing, massage, pedicure and manicures, artificial fingernails, body treatments, etc.) Failure to follow IPAC (Infection Prevention and Control) practices can pose a risk of infection to both clients and workers in PSS.
For the love of LOGIC, is this not true for ALL businesses involving personal interaction? PSS businesses have to follow very strict guidelines to prevent infection to the location’s workers and to the clients, and the restrictions were pretty tight before the Pandemic.
One question which begs to be answered is why people working in the PSS business are not higher on the “to be vaccinated” pecking order?? In a new mandate (03.26.21) from Durham’s Regional Board of Health, PPS workers must now wear Medical Masks and Goggles and, if possible, face shields to protect themselves from the public at large. Does such a new restriction not indicate that PSS workers are in a high-risk category and should receive a vaccination at least the same time as nurses – don’t ya think?
In Durham Region, a PSS is not allowed to take in walk-ins; by appointment only. Prior to entering the premises, the client answer 17 COVID-19 questions; and personal contact information. All surfaces must be wiped down between clients, including doorknobs, bathroom sink, toilet, POS PIN Pad at reception and all surfaces that can be touched by a client or team member. In addition to each of the forms that must be filled in, the PSS is also required to fill in a check-in form showing date, appointment time, client’s name, phone number, services to be rendered and team member(s) providing services.
Weekly I go to TD Canada Trust and discover the entrance bars or door handles are not wiped between clients, the PIN Pad in which you insert your card in front of the Teller is not cleaned between clients, nor is the countertop in front of the Teller. On a few occasions, I have asked why they do not have to follow the standard IPAC Pandemic practice and was informed, “we do not have to comply with those procedures.” Really! I put a call into Durham Region Health Department and was informed the Banks are Federal and they never inspect them. If I have a complaint, I am to call the Pickering By-Law Office, and they will dispatch someone to check upon them. Seriously this is now my job as if I do not have enough trying to keep my business alive and their job not to kill my clients! Thinking it may be just the branch at Liverpool and 401, I went to another location in Ajax – same issues. I went into two CIBC locations and saw one Teller cleaning his POS PIN pad and also in the same reach the counter area in front of him. He was the only one that did this why I was observing while in line. A Bank Branch can have more visitors in 15 minutes than the total number of visitors to a PSS.
At Christmas time, I had to pick up packages at the Canada Post Outlet in the Shoppers Drug Mart in the Pickering Town Centre. Surprise, the Signing Pad for parcel nor the plastic pen were not wiped off between clients. And the Government wants us to go to these same “professionals” to get our vaccination shot! Also the payment POS PIN pad was also not being wiped down. I asked, why and the response was we are too busy! Do you find this attitude acceptable? Was the price increases at the beginning of the Pandemic intended to pay for these extra procedures not be just another profitable channel of trade. Unlike Walmart the self checkouts at Shoppers are not cleaned between clients at the Westney Road and Kingston Road location in Ajax. Even Dollarma has a dedicated person cleaning the shelf checkout terminals, but not the door handles as a year ago.
In my opinion, the majority of people that do in-Branch Banking are over 50 and in many cases in their 70’s as they do not fully trust the new totally electronic banking systems. Additionally, I consider banks to be super spreader locations, and visits should be limited. In my case, I have to get cash to payout tips. A year into the Pandemic and the Bankers demonstrate they have zero interest in keeping their customers safe! Having a dispenser of hand sanitizers around is not the same as wiping off customer services, ESPECIALLY THE POS PIN PAD, which must be touched at the beginning of any transaction.
Am I the only person bothered by the outright disregard for my health and safety from the Banks as well as the big box stores? Have you noticed that the self-checkouts at Walmart have wiped downs between clients but not the cashier lanes? What is of most interest is that the disinfectants are not given sufficient time to kill any pathogens? You go to Costco, and there is rarely any social distancing in the aisles.
We are going to have another lockdown, most likely the entire months of May, June and July. This time around, I think the small business owners should protest in front of the Walmart’s and Costco’s as they can tape off sections of their stores featuring non-essential food items. And we exit lockdown; the big box stores should have to remain closed (with exception to their pharmacies) for 30-days so the clients can seek out whoever is left in the small business community.
Make sure when visiting any Bank in the branch you wear disposable gloves, seeing how they don’t care what you might pick up other than cash while visiting them. When I get cash, I let it sit for three days, so if it was contaminated, the virus would die on the surfaces of any of the banknotes.
Please take a 360 degree look around you. Does it not appear that the local and provincial government health and safety departments are imposing inconsistent and spermatic logic business sector to business sector. They make examples of some and others go uninspected. We may need to take matters into our own hands. Big business only responds to cuts in revenues. To this end, it is time to boycott retailers or service providers who put your well-being behind their need to make a profit. Don’t listen to the PR, but look at their deeds. They raised their prices a year ago to cover these extra costs, including PPE and now it a newfound profit centre. Small business owners should consider protesting in front of the large big box stores during the next lockdown. We may a few small sector-specific lockdowns with a total provincial-wide lockdown starting in May. Heck, the weather will be nice by then, and the exercise will be good for all! These protests should continue until these stores rope-off the non-essential products, which can easily be done, unlike Premier Ford, who said it was difficult for these stores to separate their products.
We are to find out tomorrow 04.01.21 about new Provincial or Regional lockdowns. If you are a small business owner and are forced to close, don’t forget to protest in front of the big box stores on public property until such time they only sell essential products. Also, ask your bank managers why they are not following the Ontario Governments IPAC (Infection Prevention and Control) guidelines to keep you safe while doing in-branch business with them?
Stay safe.