Assume facilities, outdoor areas closed unless specifically mentioned by emergency officials
By COLLIN GALLANT on May 13, 2020.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant When the coronavirus pandemic first hit, a number of city facilities fell under health orders to prevent mass gatherings – first defined as 250 or more people, then reduced to as few as 10. Later this week the province will ease some restrictions for certain areas of economic and public life, but a number of municipal operation areas won’t be opened to the public initially, planners told reporters on Tuesday. The Gas City Campground will open on June 1 but with limited capacity and a number of operational requirements, as outlined by the province in sector specific data sheets provided on Monday. The Esplanade, which falls under an approved phase-one category of museums and art galleries, will not open this week. “We will go though that process methodically and take the time to make sure that we have it nailed down,” said Merrick Brown, the city’s director of emergency management, adding that the safety of workers and patrons was the paramount consideration. “We want to be thoughtful and cautious about re-opening.” Brown also said administrators have a plan to increase transit service – which has seen reduced hours and limits on seating – as ridership increases as Hatters return to jobs or access shopping. No immediate changes are planned, he said. In terms of overall restrictions, said Brown, people should continue to apply general rules in all situations. People should also assume that restrictions – such as playground and facility closures – are still in place unless otherwise specifically addressed by the city’s emergency department. On Monday, the province released sector-specific information and guidelines and operating restrictions for nine categories set to re-open this week. As well, information for planning operations are provided for nine groupings of phase-one businesses and facilities. Chief among those groupings is retailers and restaurants, along with churches, childcare facilities, barbershops and hair salons, and daycamps. Guidance is also provided for the social services sectors, such as those dealing with the disabled and homeless shelters. Golf course operators are included, though they were allowed to open early last week. Other provisions are included for farmers markets, industrial work camps, outdoor shooting ranges and private campgrounds. Outdoor recreation areas are still subject to groups of fewer than 15 people with social distancing maintained, and people who display symptoms or have travelled, should not take part. Common surfaces or activities with shared equipment should be avoided. The province has not given a date for when additional openings could take place. That will be evaluated as stage one progresses, officials have said, and adjusted as needed to contain the spread of the virus. 20-19
