NEWS FILE PHOTO Downtown Medicine Hat is seen in this undated file photo. Hatters are facing a rash of closures are health officials and the community work to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Medicine Hat News
Hatters are facing a rash of closures are health officials and the community work to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
City officials are telling citizens to be calm, cautious and courteous in the face of facility closures that were announced over the weekend.
City of Medicine Hat rec centres and cultural facilities were closed for the foreseeable future on Sunday “out of an abundance of caution” to halt the spread of the Corona that’s been put in place across the province, not because of any local change or diagnosis.
“We have robust plans in the city and we will get through this,” said Merrick Brown, the city’s director of emergency response.
“This is a very dynamic situation, and as the risk level changes, we’ll re-evaluate.”
Officials said that the city’s of Medicine Hat’s emergency footing has not changed since Friday when it opened the emergency operations centre.
Mayor Ted Clugston urged citizens to be vigilant following guidelines about hand-washing and maintaining physical distance, and self-isolating.
He also urged Hatters to help out neighbours and businesses “in a responsible way” by offering to get groceries or medication for seniors and other at risk.
Brown called for businesses to examine emergency preparedness plans and business continuity plans.
Hatters are facing a rash of closures are health officials and the community work to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The City of Medicine Hat has scheduled a press conference at 11:30 a.m. today to describe the municipal response to the pandemic. The Medicine Hat News will provide an update with the most current information
Late Sunday the province announced that all K-12 classes have been suspended and daycare facilities will be closed until further notice.
There are no confirmed cases of the illness in the South Zone which comprises areas in southern Alberta outside of Calgary.
Wide-ranging restrictions and a list of precautionary measures are also in place limited public gatherings above 250 people.
The City of Calgary enacted a “State of Emergency” late Sunday, giving officials in that city the ability to limit building occupancy to half the stated firecode capacity.
City of Medicine Hat officials told reporters in Friday’s update that such measures were not needed at that time.
Recreation and cultural facilities were also closed by the City of Medicine Hat, which has said Friday that it would monitor and abide by provincial advisories.
To comply with Sunday’s “new aggressive measures” from provincial health orders the city announced the closure to the public of the Esplanade Arts & Heritage, Family Leisure Centre, Crestwood Recreation Centre and other community arenas
The Veiner and Strathcona Centres will be closed temporarily until further notice, though Meals on Wheels and critical outreach services will continue.
Information on City of Medicine Hat action can be found here: https://www.medicinehat.ca/what-s-new/covid-19-updates-info/test
SCHOOLS
In an email to parents local school boards, Medicine Hat Catholic, Public and the Prairie Rose School Division, said that pupils should not attend school. Plans were being developed to create online programming for children as well as schedule how belongings can be picked up in an orderly manner. More information will be forthcoming.
Medicine Hat Public Schools: http://mhpsd.ca/news/what_s_new/c_o_v_i_d-19
Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education: https://www.mhcbe.ab.ca/
Prairie Rose School Division: https://www.prrdweb.com/view.php?action=object&id=40963&stream=Emergency-Ticker
COLLEGE
All post-secondary classes across the province are cancelled though campuses will remain open, including Medicine Hat College.
Administrators say further statements and programming notes are being developed.
DAYCARE
All licensed child care facilities, out-of-school care programs and preschool programs are closed indefinitely.
The provincial order does not pertain to dayhomes that involve small groups.
PRACTICE CAUTION
Officials at all levels are stressing that citizens practice caution and keep apprised of current and official information: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
