Page 24 - envision09-2020

COVID-19 Update:

OPTICIANS MASTERING

CHANGE TOGETHER

Special Report
By JoAnne Sommers

“ We have to disinfect I n the wake of the COVID-19 executive director of the 4,500-member
pandemic, the practice of opticianry Opticians Association of Canada
in Canada has changed significantly (OAC). “It’s very time-consuming and
each frame and
cuts down on the time we can spend
—and, quite probably, permanently.
everything else Two months after the mid-March with patients.”
that comes in contact lockdown, many practices across the Sara Moshurchak, Vancouver-based
country started gradually re-opening. optician and owner of MOSH
with every client... But a return to practice did not mean a Framemakers, spends two hours a
It’s very time-consuming return to business as usual. day cleaning her store. She cut her
store hours and now sees people by
and cuts down on The need to spend several hours a day appointment only. “It’s much less
disinfecting everything that touches a stressful this way and I plan to continue
the time we can spend patient—tools, equipment, countertops, it,” she says.
“ maintaining physical distancing in Moshurchak recently re-hired both of
with patients. doorknobs and more—while
enclosed spaces, means practitioners her part-time staff and her social media
have had to dramatically reduce the person, and says that the federal wage
number of patients they see daily. subsidy program and the Canada
Emergency Response Benefit made it
“We have to disinfect each frame and possible to keep the business afloat,
everything else that comes in contact despite a 35 per cent drop in sales this
with every client,” says Robert Dalton, year.

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