When Toronto’s medical officer of health asked bars, nightclubs and theatres to close, and restaurants to switch to delivery and takeout, her decision was lauded by many for helping to slow the spread of COVID-19. But it has also left many workers — hourly wage earners, restaurant and bar staff, freelancers — wondering how they’re going to pay their rent.

“I’m trying not to panic,” said Sameer Cash, 28, a musician and bartender at The Cameron House on Queen St. W., which decided to close indefinitely on Sunday.

Cash worries that even if the government announced some kind of financial assistance program, he might not qualify because of the nature of his work.

“Eighty per cent of my income is tips,” he said. “They’re going to look at my pay cheques, which is nothing.”

Premier Doug Ford announced legislation on Monday that, if passed, will ensure that no workers lose their job if they have to miss work due to COVID-19. But it won’t help anyone recover lost wages.

The government added in its announcement that it is reviewing access to emergency assistance through Ontario Works to “support individuals who are impacted by the coronavirus and who are not able to meet their basic living expenses,” but offered no concrete plans.

Cosmo Ferraro, owner of The Cameron House and a musician himself, said it was “imperative” that the government provide some kind of financial relief for workers who won’t be paid during this indefinite period of social distancing.

“The reality for many of the people I know is that they won’t be able to cover the bare necessities without a month of income,” he said. “They won’t be able to pay rent. They won’t be able to buy groceries.”

Even without a government request, Ferraro felt he had little choice but to close his bar and music venue.

“It’s the nature of the music industry and the bar industry that you need a crowd of people and that’s one of the most dangerous things right now.”

Major restaurant chains and retailers are already starting to fall in line, announcing changes to reduce public gatherings. Starbucks and Tim Hortons both closed their dining rooms, switching to drive-thru and takeout only, with Starbucks also closing some of its locations entirely.

Starbucks announced that employees who miss work due to the coronavirus or whose hours are reduced by a store closure can access the company’s “Catastrophe Pay” program. Tim Hortons did not immediately respond to questions from the Star about whether they will be providing any assistance to employees whose shifts are reduced.

Vancouver-based clothing retailer Aritzia announced it would be closing all of its stores until further notice while offering free shipping on online orders. The company’s website states that all profits collected “through this challenging time” will go to the Aritzia Community Relief Fund “to support our people and their families.”

In professional sports, team owners, and, in some cases the players themselves, have promised to continue to pay the wages of the shift workers in concessions and other roles within the arenas.

Last week the federal government waived the one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits for anyone who is in quarantine due to COVID-19, and also put in place a “Work-Sharing” program for employers experiencing a downturn in business due to COVID-19.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, meanwhile, says it’s “pushing” both the provincial and federal government to “provide relief measures for small businesses in the event of a broader COVID-19 outbreak.”

Roland Csach, a freelance audio-visual technician who primarily works corporate conferences, said he has lost all his work for the foreseeable future.

“It’s not like there’s a slow down,” he said. “Everything has stopped.”

Csach, 33, said he hopes the government can provide “some sort of safety net,” but, like Cash, he wonders how any financial assistance could make it’s way to him. “A lot of our industry relies on freelance labour, so there’s a big worry among all of us if we’re even going to be able to see any assistance from the government.”

Maxime Brunet, a sound engineer for touring bands, has watched every tour she was booked to work until June get cancelled in recent days. Like Csach, she’s a self-employed contractor, so she’s not eligible for employment insurance and she can’t appeal to an employer for help. “For a lot of us these are pretty anxious times.”

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Brunet is hopeful the government will come up with some kind of financial assistance for workers in her situation.

“I think there are so many people in this gig economy that are contractors, there’s going to be some big problems if they don’t take care of self-employed people.”

For Cash, who in addition to losing his bartending shifts is also currently unable to make money as a performer, agrees that we should be limiting public gatherings at the moment.

“But at the same time I have no job right now. I don’t really know what I’m going to do.”

With files from The Canadian Press