Screening customers for COVID-19 yet another issue for small business, say councillors

City councillors are raising concern that the new restrictions passed by Hamilton's medical officer of health are placing further stress on struggling small businesses. They also say the protocols might not be as effective as hoped. 

Part of the rules, which came into effect earlier this week, require businesses to screen customers before they enter. The questions outlined by the city focus on symptoms, contact, and travel. 

Coun. Terry Whitehead of Ward 14 says he's seen the screening process, and described people rushing past a desk and blurting out answers to get inside. 

"I can tell you that [customers] say 'no, no, no, no' and off they go...I'm not sure that the outcomes you thought you were going to get as a result of this process are realistic or even happening," he said in the city's general issues committee meeting on Wednesday. 

Coun. Brad Clark (Ward 9) described the same problem. 

"I watched the screening happening...and I have to tell you, candidly, I was struck by the number of residents who were pushing up and just saying 'no to all them,'" he said. 

In many occasions, Clark said, even though the employee tried to stop the shoppers and ask them each question individually, they rattled off no's and pushed past. He added the pressure of asking is often placed on part-time workers. 

Paul Johnson, director of Hamilton's emergency operations centre, acknowledged that these situations are "going to occur" and said he understands people didn't "sign up" nine months ago to be enforcing such policies.  

"We understand the challenge and the stress this is putting on businesses," he said. "As I say, these are measures that are trying to impress upon people that it isn't rushing around and doing everything that you used to do."

If businesses don't follow the rules, they could be penalized or fined. 

Johnson said Hamilton is sitting squarely in the red zone, and the incidence case per 100,000 people is now over double what it takes to enter that category.

"We are trying our best to balance off what are helpful interventions outside of just closing things down and not letting people go at all, or only doing curbside [pick-up] because we know for some businesses that can't occur," he said.

Johnson clarified that businesses with only one person working on site should post the questions at the store's entrance instead of standing at the door. 

He said people who are picking up pre-paid purchases, like food, can also enter, grab and go. 

Holidays are the 'last hope'

Clark said smaller businesses don't have the capacity for one worker to be solely screening at the door. Even slightly larger businesses, he said, already have employees working with set positions, which have already been set for the holiday season. 

When asked about businesses being compensated, finance head Mike Zegarac said they would take the issue back and "give some thought."

Ward 6 councillor Tom Jackson said he "fully bleeds" with small business owners who are struggling to hang on and competing with box stores while entering the holiday season, which he called their "last hope." 

He raised concern about the questionnaire resulting in longer lines, and Johnson said they might cause delay and operational challenges, but too many people are still going about their daily business with symptoms. 

Whitehead also questioned whether people would even be telling the truth. 

"There's no way we can force truthfulness...but the reality is most people do answer all of those questionnaires truthfully," Johnson said. People who fail the questionnaire, he said, wouldn't enter the building. 

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the city's medical officer of health, addressed screening employees and whether they might lie at the board of health meeting on Monday.

"Most people are honest when they're asked the questions," she said. She also noted policies that support workers by making it "easier" to stay off work when they are sick would mean better compliance.