The City of New Westminster is shutting the doors to community facilities to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and slow the rate of infection.
Services like garbage collection will continue until further notice, but community and recreational facilities will be closed as of March 17 and will remain closed until further notice. The goal is to help reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus in the community.
“We have closed to the public all city facilities, with the exception of the fire halls, the police department and city hall – with staff and visitors being screened prior to entering,” said Blair Fryer, the city’s director of communications. “We are introducing protocols now, where we are asking people to refrain from visiting city hall unless it’s for a city service that they need. They will be asked to enter city hall through a single entrance at the back. There will be screening procedures set up to ensure they don’t enter the building if they are displaying any of the symptoms associated with coronavirus.”
Facilities being closed include Canada Games Pool, Centennial Community Centre,Century House (modified food services will continue to be offered, with further details to follow), Moody Park Arena, Queen’s Park Arena, Queensborough Community Centre, the youth centre, the New Westminster Public Library (Uptown and Queens borough branches), Anvil Centre (including the New Media Gallery and New Westminster Museum and Archives), the New Westminster Animal Shelter and tow yard, and the front counter at the New Westminster Police Department.
“City services continue until further notice,” Fryer said of services such as garbage collection. “What today’s announcement does is impact the actual facilities being opened to the public.”
While the work of city hall continues, Fryer sad the city will be taking its lead from health-care experts on next steps in terms of protocols and dealing with COVID-19. He said the city is looking at essential service levels and how to accommodate that, should it be required.
The city’s registered spring break camps, including Jr. Royale, Sr. Royale, Extreme Challenge, and full-day art camps at Anvil Centre will proceed.
“The city’s spring break programs this week will be proceeding, along with licensed child-care programs in city facilities. That said, should anybody wish to get a refund on any city program, those will be made available,” Fryer said. “Many parents have registered their kids for programs, and it’s challenging just to cancel them in one fell swoop, especially during spring break. So we have been sensitive to that, but at the same time reassuring parents and program participants we will be adjusting our protocols to make sure we are following the lead of the health-care experts and will be extra diligent about ensuring no children are participating who may be displaying symptoms associated with coronavirus.”
The city is also working on an ability to continue to offer modified food services for those who normally depend on the service at Century House.
“We recognize that could be an issue for some, so we want to make sure we are responding,” Fryer said. “We will have more information on what a modified food service might look like in the coming days.”
City staff have connected with non-profit organizations and other local stakeholders and are developing actions to address issues and impacts resulting from COVID-19. This includes establishing three working groups: one that will deal with issues relating to at-risk and vulnerable populations, one that will with deal issues and impacts relating to frail and isolated seniors, and one that will deal with issues and impacts on local businesses and the economy.
A notice on the City of New Westminster’s website states that municipal governments are guided by local, provincial and federal health authorities on health matters. The City of New Westminster is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and working with the Fraser Health Authority and other health agencies to ensure the most up-to-date information is available and recommended practices and protocols are followed.
In response to the COVID-19 situation, the City of New Westminster has opened its emergency operations centre to a Level 1 in an effort to support operations within the city. T
“The reason for the EOC activation is to keep more a less a thermometer on the corporation as a whole, on where we are, staffing levels, business continuity plans for the different departments , just being able to support all the departments if they are having critical issues that may arise from this,” said Fire Chief Tim Armstrong.
The city’s website recommends that people check with the BC Centre for Disease Control (www.bccdc.ca), the Fraser Health Authority (www.fraserhealth.ca) and Public Health Agency of Canada (www.canada.ca/en/public-health) for information and updates. It also encourages citizens to take the usual precautions to prevent regular cold or flu viruses during the cold and flu season, including:
- Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
