Bar owners hesitate to resume dancing for Step 3 of Ontario's reopening
For the first time in months, Ontarians can sweat it out on the dance floor on Friday night as the province pushes forward into Step 3 of its reopening plan, but some establishments are taking a back seat for the time being.
Ontario’s roadmap to reopening outlines that food and drink establishments with dance floors can resume indoors, as long as customers can keep a two metre distance, without exceeding a 250 person or 25 per cent capacity.
While there is excitement about returning to the dance floor, there is also hesitation.
Tal Adler, director of Xtreme Hospitality, says many of the 200 venues he consults are holding off on commencing dancing for now.
“We're not willing to risk it,” he said.
“A lot of people are getting threatened with getting their liquor licenses revoked if they're breaking rules. And getting a COVID-19 [enforcement] fine is one thing, but being threatened to lose your liquor licenses...it's not a road many people are willing to walk.”
Based on Step 3 of Ontario’s reopening plan, patrons at food and drink establishments with dancing must wear face coverings indoors and outdoors, while maintaining physical distance, unless they are with the same people seated at their table.
“What are we supposed to do? Like brothers and sisters are the only ones that can dance with each other? If they live in the same house? How are we supposed to maintain that?” Adler asked.
CTV News Toronto inquired with Ontario’s Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries about the guidance they would suggest to personnel who are simultaneously dancing and drinking, requiring them to remove their face covering.
In response, a media relations officer pointed to rules for restaurants and bars in Step 3, which states, “patrons are permitted to remove a mask or face covering temporarily to consume food or drink, or as may be necessary for the purposes of health and safety.”
Owner Jeff Cohen says he won’t be opening up Dance Cave, a decades-old indoor club known for its energetic dance floor at Bathurst and Bloor streets.
“It’s too risky,” he said. “People are going to have things to drink. [There's] no way they're going to be spaced and they're not going to wear a mask while they're dancing,” he said.
“And then you add in also the fact that if you're holding a drink, and you have to take your mask off….well, there you go,” Cohen added.
Another longstanding downtown Toronto establishment Cohen owns, the Horseshoe Tavern, will be opening its door on Friday night as an indoor bar.
Typically, the Horseshoe Tavern is open six days a week with a capacity of nearly 500 people. Now, he says they are operating at about 8 per cent of their normal capacity.
“I hope we're going to get to 100 per cent normal soon,” he said, “It’s a good start, but we're definitely not reopened.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.