Whoop-Up vendors and visitors react to incoming restrictions
By Al Beeber on September 4, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com Exhibitors and others at Whoop-Up Days on Friday had mixed reactions to the provincial government’s reintroduction of mask mandates and other measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.Sherry and Gerard Drew, who run Prairie Metal Craft in Warner, are totally supportive of regulations which include mandatory masks in all indoor public spaces and workplaces starting today.
“I think it makes things safer,” said Sherry, whose husband has Multiple Sclerosis. Their son in Calgary has suffered from Lyme disease and with those health issues, they feel masking is warranted to get COVID under control.
Because of the pandemic, the couple has only seen a grandson in person once since he was born in February 2020.
“Thank goodness for FaceTime,” said Drew.
“I have more important things to do than catch COVID,” she said. “We were the first in line for the vaccine and we’ll be first in line for a booster. We want to be safe and be able to participate in the world at the same time.”
Urban Berg of Moose Jaw, Sask-based vendor Cowboy’s Caviar which sells beef jerky, was surprised to hear of the regulation and said he feels it would hurt business for the rest of the weekend.
Berg said his business used to employ six people full-time attending trade fairs but COVID-19 ended that.
“Masks and limiting crowds shut things down,” said Berg.
One person who didn’t want his name used said “this is like closing the barn door after the horse is already gone.”
Another more bluntly said “there’s going to be a revolution.” Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
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