Surge in Omicron infections sparks more closures, questions about testing requirements for workers

More businesses are making the difficult decision to temporarily close their doors as more workers are getting sick and going into isolation due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Manitoba.

More businesses are making the difficult decision to temporarily close their doors as more workers are getting sick and going into isolation due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Manitoba.

Even amid a deep freeze workers at Chaeban Ice Cream in South Osborne had been serving up scoops, right up until the pandemic took another bite out of business.

“Last week a few of our staff members tested positive for COVID so we wanted to be safe and we decided to close our store,” said Joseph Chaeban, owner of Chaeban Ice Cream.

Chaeban said in a phone interview the employees are doing well but, as a precaution, he’s temporarily keeping the company’s ice cream shop closed until at least Jan. 10.

It’s one of a growing number of businesses briefly closing their doors and keeping staff home due in part to illnesses among workers and to help limit the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant.

“We wanted to do our part to slow down this curve and we didn’t want our other staff members to get infected as well,” Chaeban said.

In Manitoba, retail stores can operate at full capacity, except in the Southern Health Region, provided businesses ensure two metres of physical distancing.