A new Okotoks aesthetics facility, which had its initial opening cut short due to COVID-19 regulations, is taking reservations for Jan. 18, as some restrictions were lifted on Jan. 14.
“I am excited, really, really happy to be back to work,” said Nina Partridge of My Little Room of Beauty on Elma Street.
Partridge opened her one-person salon on Dec. 1, but had to close on Dec. 13, when Premier Jason Kenney announced aesthetics, manicure, pedicure, body waxing, make-up, hairstyling and other personal and wellness services had to shut down as part of a public health order. That health order was extended to Jan. 21. However, Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced on Jan. 14, personal and wellness services are allowed to open by appointment only effective Jan. 18.
“We didn’t expect that we would be able to go back on Monday,” Partridge said. “I have had people messaging me for appointments. We had people who had booked for after Jan. 21, moved it forward.”
She expected to be booked solid for Monday.
“It’s like we are back to Day 1 for me when we first opened — I’m starting all over again,” she said.
Personal and wellness service businesses and clients must continue to follow COVID-19 protocols, such as masking and hygiene practices.
Shandro lifted other restrictions on Jan. 14.
While indoor social gatherings continue to be prohibited, outdoor social gatherings are allowed up to 10 people.
As well, funeral ceremony attendance was increased to 20 people from 10, with mandatory masking and two-metre physical distancing. Funeral receptions are not allowed.
Leanne Snodgrass, funeral director at Snodgrass Funeral Homes in Okotoks, said it is a move forward.
“It is a little tiny step in the right direction,” Snodgrass said. “Twenty is better than 10.”
She said the Alberta Funeral Services Association is in conversation with the government to raise the number of people allowed at a service to 25 per cent of a chapel's capacity up to a maximum of 50 people.
She said there are thousands of families which have not had the chance to grieve through a funeral service.
“Is 20 good enough? No,” Snodgrass said. “There are 28,000 families in Alberta who have not been given the opportunity to grieve."
She said she has worked with families who have more than 10 members, have had to pick and choose who attends a service.
“From a funeral director’s perspective, it is horrible when you tell a family when they can’t have more than 10 people at a funeral and there are 11 children,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking when they have to pick and choose.”
Many families are opting to have a service after COVID restrictions are lifted, she said. However, Snodgrass said some families may decide not to have a service at all.
“There are mental health issues involved for that family that didn’t receive the support from other family and friends from the community,” Snodgrass said. “I think by ignoring it, there are going to be mental health issues.”
She said the restrictions have hurt business for funeral homes.
“From a business perspective, I feel fortunate that I still come to work every day,” she said. “Certainly, we have felt it, you continue to tighten up and tighten up, but I feel fortunate to come to work.”
Sheldon Allan, owner of Ghost Town Tattoos & Barber Shop in Okotoks, said he is booked solid.
"Monday is full," Allan said. "As soon as we announced, we had an avalanche of people in our inbox and messages at the shop as well... the days following are filling up fast as well."
He feels the tattoo shops and other personal services shouldn't have been hit when Kenney made his announcement in December.
"I feel like it was very unfair," Allan said. "Speaking to people in AHS, there were zero cases confirmed coming into or out of tattoo shops, as well as barber shops and piercing places, and we run all three of those."
He's glad to be back to work.
"We're extremely excited to be back to work," Allan said. "We realized how much more we loved it, when they took it away."
Shandro said in a press release whether further restrictions will be lifted will depend on COVID-19 numbers and the actions of Albertans.
“Albertans have done a good job of staying the course and abiding by public health measures, but we are still seeing high hospitalizations and case numbers, and this continues to put a serious strain on our health-care system,” Shandro said in a press release.
“How much further we can ease restrictions depends on our collective efforts over the coming days and weeks to limit the spread of the virus.”
