Saskatoon book store adopts rapid testing for staff
Turning The Tide bookstore in Saskatoon is using a free rapid-testing program for small businesses offered by the Saskatchewan Health Authority as the city experiences a rise in COVID-19 cases.
“We just received our first rapid test kit, so we are going to be testing our employees twice a week for COVID, for asymptomatic COVID,” owner Peter Garden said.
“I would really encourage other businesses and organizations to sign up, it’s a free program. It’s something we can all do to contribute to the safety of our community.”
Staff have also been taking extra steps such as mandatory masking and having hand sanitizer at the door.
Garden said he is worried as COVID-19 numbers climb during the fourth wave.
“We definitely welcome some safety measures to be put in place by the provincial government. Were actually disappointed that they haven’t taken steps, and have let the fourth wave get so out of control right now,” Garden said.
“None of us want lockdowns, again, but we also don’t want to see our hospitals filling up like they are now and having to cancel surgeries and overworking nurses and doctors, its not fair to them. We really need some leadership right now.”
Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce CEO Jason Aebig said businesses in the city have not been taken by surprise.
“All of these recent developments around a fourth wave are concerning, but they weren’t completely unexpected,” Aebig said.
“There’s no question that businesses learned a lot over the last 20 months about how to stay open, how to keep people employed, how to secure the safety of their customers and employees coming into their workplace,” Aebig told CTV.
Aebig said Saskatoon businesses benefited from the push to shop local throughout last year, but now is not the time to let up.
“The need to shop local and support our local business community is just as strong now as it was over the past 20 months and prior to that.
“What we, I think, need to see now is patience and patronage of these businesses that are doing their level best to serve the public and their employees and customers at the same time.”
Do you have a story idea or news tip? Email us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.