The Manitoba and Saskatchewan governments have determined pool and spa companies operating in each province to be “essential businesses” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a recent release by the Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada (PHTCC), pool and spa retail businesses in Manitoba are not listed on the schedule issued with public health orders.
In a separate release PHTCC release, the same message was delivered to those pool and spa companies in Saskatchewan.
In both provinces, stores selling pool and hot tub products cannot have storefront retail operations, but they are not restricted in filling phone or online orders, using curbside pick-up and delivery. Maintenance and service of pool and hot tubs is also allowed provided technicians adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols, which are common restrictions that apply to most retail operations across the country. The objective is to minimize physical interactions that could transmit the virus, while still allowing businesses to operate as freely as possible.
Bill Roberton, executive director of the PHTCC, states the council continues to contact all levels of government across Canada as part of its government outreach detailing the services provided by members companies may be considered as essential businesses serving their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a recent statement by the PHTCC’s president, Crystal Lengua, in response to the Ontario government’s latest update to the province’s emergency order which saw the list of essential businesses reduced as of April 4, she advised for the pool and spa industry to stay in line with the mandate all industrial construction projects and new residential installations should cease.
“The Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada’s guidance to Ontario members is to stop any and all pool construction, including those projects that have already been started, until further notice,” Lengua said in the statement. “We feel #20 on the revised essentials list addresses the maintenance and service of existing pools but new pool construction does not meet the essential business criteria. Our industry’s service technicians are under strict guidance to travel alone to deliver services and to not engage in-person with the property owner and practice appropriate hand sanitization. Retailers have made accommodations to service customers with curbside pick-up, ship-to-home, and other best practices in social distancing.
“Health, safety, and the need to flatten the curve are at the forefront of these decisions and we need to do what we can as a community to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Early on, when provincial governments started to announce these emergency orders and closures of non-essential businesses, the PHTCC has remained in contact with key government officials across Canada communicating on behalf of the pool and spa industry and its important role in keeping communities healthy and safe.
As part of this, the council has issued regular updates on the COVID-19 pandemic along with guidance and best practices for operational and workplace safety during these period. In addition to sourcing helpful resources for pool and hot tub businesses to help them navigate workplace topics related to the pandemic, the PHTCC also recently unveiled a dedicated website (www.phtcccovid19.ca) specific to COVID-19 information.
