Regina’s Chamber CEO pleased with latest COVID-19 measures

The CEO of the Regina Chamber of Commerce is praising the province’s most recent COVID-19 measures.

As of Dec. 25, retailers must reduce their store’s capacity to 50 per cent. For big box stores, it’s 25 per cent.

John Hopkins accepts that will have an impact on businesses, but it will be a smaller one compared to those in Alberta or Manitoba, where businesses have been ordered to close.

“The main thing from our perspective is we’re not facing a total lockdown again, which a lot of businesses haven’t even gotten back what they lost to that. So it’s a good thing that we’re still open,” he told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Wednesday morning.

“And again, at the end of the day, what this is really all about is trying to save lives.”

Hopkins believes the restrictions strike a balance between public health and business interests.

“But I think that it’s really about trying to find the right balance because if we shut down the economy and people don’t have jobs, I’m not sure how good that is for people.”

Like many others, he was feeling optimistic watching the first COVID-19 vaccine being administered in the province.

“There is a light at the tunnel and we all got to keep standing together and put the oars in and get to that light.”