Kelowna chamber seeks support for COVID-impacted businesses

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce is calling on businesses to pay special attention to new restrictions ordered by the B.C. government, while at the same time, is calling on the province to provide economic support for businesses and individuals most impacted by these latest restrictions.

In measures announced Tuesday, bars, nightclubs, gyms, and fitness centres will be closed, and no private indoor organized gatherings of any size will be allowed until mid January as of midnight tonight. Sports tournaments are also now cancelled. Restaurants will be allowed to remain open, though physical distancing or physical barriers must be put back in place. Public seated indoor events are being reduced to 50 per cent capacity, regardless the venue size with vaccination checking and mandatory mask wearing remaining in place.

“This an awful time for small business owners to face fresh financial uncertainty. Though the Province referenced forthcoming supports in its announcement, Minister Kahlon must move quickly to get support to businesses that need it,” says Chamber President Jeffrey Robinson.

The Chamber is also pleased to learn a strategy to deploy rapid test kits is in the works and the Kelowna Chamber is more than ready to assist in the distribution of rapid tests kits to businesses that are interested in using them. For months now, chambers of ommerce in other provinces have provided a key distribution network for rapid test kits.