Mayor Ted Clugston addresses reporters during an outdoor press conference in front of the doors to Medicine Hat city hall on Tuesday. -- News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Calls for physical isolation in the pandemic response are aggravating neighbour squabbles and causing some confusion, city officials said Tuesday while stressing common sense and courtesy to prevent frustration.
Mayor Ted Clugston and the city’s director of emergency response, Merrick Brown, said that overall Hatters should be commended for following guidelines from Alberta Health Services to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
But, calls for residents worried about others’ behaviour are flooding in, the men said.
“If you have an axe to grind, this is not the time,” said Clugston during a new weekly update for media that was held just outside the front doors of city hall on Tuesday morning.
“We all know there are neighbourhood complaints about being too loud or whatever, and now people have a new complaint … I’m just saying try to get along and work together.”
Brown said an intense news cycle and reports are coming from other provinces – which each have slightly different health orders, fines, enforcement and specific events that are banned due to social distancing.
Brown said that when he is out and about locally, he sees residents following the rules, and for that they should be congratulated. At the same time, Hatters should apply basic rules and common sense in grey areas, he stressed.
AHS recommends maintaining two metres of physical distance from others, staying home if sick and as much as possible anyways, coughing in to a tissue or sleeve and washing hands often.
“It is happening and I’d like to commend those individuals because that’s how we’re preventing the spread,” said Brown, who said a plethora of information and regulations can exacerbate emotions.
“Some (regulations) can be a little bit ambiguous, especially in a health order, so people should rely on the general guidelines from Alberta Health Services and you’ll be good.
“We can’t rely on Alberta Health to lay down a rule about every single activity that you may or may not be allowed to do,” said Brown.
“We are responsible citizens and a responsible citizen can go to the guidelines and see that you can still go outside and enjoy the sunshine and practise them.”
Oil response
In light of extremely low prices for Western Canadian Select grade of oil, the city’s petroleum resources department is moving to shut in as much production as possible, Clugston said.
According to 2019 financial statements the city’s oil production amounts to about 1,150 barrels per day, but much of that is done through joint ventures and working interest agreements with other companies.
Clugston also stated the city has cut the size of its workforce with layoffs, but couldn’t provide general figures while calling them “massive.”
“We probably won’t be hiring seasonal (summer) workers, as we try to use people who are surplus,” he said.
