The gradual process of reopening the province’s economy from the COVID-19 pandemic has started.
The first phase began May 4 with medical services such as dentistry, optometry, hearing clinics, physical therapy, opticians, podiatry, occupational therapy and chiropractic treatment centres opening their doors.
Stacy Wempe with the Scotsburn Dental Centre said they were looking forward to opening again, and seeing their customers, but they had to implement changes. Employees need to don such to protective equipment as surgical gowns, blue booties, a hairnet and more.
“When we’re doing anything with the hand piece, we have to wear a special N95 mask,” she said.
If they’re using dental aerosols on a patient, they have to ensure a room is closed off, and then another patient can’t enter for 120 minutes. Four of the six rooms in the dental clinic are closed off, which is good for them, because many dental offices have open rooms.
It means Scotsburn Dental will likely only be able to see 15 patients per day. Emergencies will be their priority, so check-ups haven’t been phased in yet.
“If people are in pain or anything like that, we would be seeing them,” she said.
In recent weeks, Scotsburn Dental has been open for emergencies only. They have been speaking to people over the phone regarding dental needs.
“We didn’t want them to go to the hospital. We want to keep people out of the hospitals, and we did a lot over the phone.”
She predicted dental offices would see the biggest change among the businesses allowed to open in Phase 1, because they work with people’s mouths. Scotsburn Dental has taken the necessary precautions, and they’re cleaning even more than in the past.
Sun Country Hearing Ltd. has had to learn a lot of new things about protective personal equipment (PPE), and they had to have equipment rushed to Estevan to be ready to open Monday, but they were pleased to be open again.
Clients whose appointments were cancelled were understanding when they rescheduled.
Owner Jacquie Mvula said the biggest change is they won’t be able to fit somebody in between two appointments any longer if it will be a quick session, because they have to limit the number of people in the office and waiting room.
Clients also can’t bring someone with them, unless it’s a parent joining a child or a caregiver with a senior citizen.
“There will be some adjustments made as far as what I will be wearing, if we ask them to wear a mask, say, in a wax removal if we’re both really close to each other,” said Mvula.
During the past few weeks, they were available for emergency calls, and they repaired hearing aids for their clients.
There was some confusion about whether they would be able to open on Monday, and the government didn’t confirm until late last week that audiologists would be part of Phase 1. Sun Country Hearing had the PPE equipment rushed to their sites in Estevan and Yorkton, and they had already hired some of their staff back in anticipation that they would be part of Phase 1.
Mvula reminds the public that it’s important to continue to support local businesses during these times because local business people have been doing all they can to back the community in the past few weeks.
Alexandra Meyer, an employee at the Estevan Eye Clinic, said it was a great feeling to be open again on Monday. They’re excited to help the public and ensure people’s eyes are healthy.
In the past six weeks, they have been handling emergencies and taking inquiries about contact lenses and glasses over the phone.
“There are those who can’t see without their glasses. For us, that constitutes an emergency, and if they can’t drive without contacts or glasses, then we have to be able to be there for them and be able to fit them.”
Customers have handled the past few weeks well.
The clinic will have their front doors locked to limit the number of people in the building at once. Clients can enter by appointment for contact lens pickups, if they want to look at glasses, and they have plastic shields set up in the office.
Meyer noted the clinic has tripled their cleaning efforts, staff members are wearing personal protective equipment, and they’re trying to do as much over the phone as possible.
Full eye exams are being booked, but even those have adapted.
Phase 1 also includes the opening of golf courses on May 15. Fishing season was allowed to open on schedule on May 5.
