Signs on the glass doors to city hall in Medicine Hat inform visitors about pandemic protocol and how to conduct official business via phone or email. City hall is set to reopen to the public on June 13, the city's emergency management office has announced. -- NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
City hall will re-open to the general public on July 13, but on the condition that visitors sign a log to accommodate potential need for contact tracing of the coronavirus, or be asked to leave and do their business via other means.
City director of emergency management Merrick Brown told council on Monday that as city hall opens for the first time in three months next week, a “monitor” will be present on two floors accessible by the public.
Masks will not be required, but if people are uncomfortable they can still transact business with the city via other means, via telephone, electronically or via traditional mail.
“We’re continuously working to open city facilities,” Brown told a press conference detailing the changes on Tuesday. “We can’t guarantee that things will look the same as this did six months ago.”
For example, the third floor of city hall including the city clerk’s and business support offices, and the largely administrative offices on the lower level will be restricted areas.
The main doors from the clock tower area will remain locked, and visitors should enter through the doors on the courthouse side. They will be greeted by a security guard who will provide directions and take down names and contact information in case contact tracing is required.
“We’re supporting Alberta Health Services on this (potential tracing initiative),” said Brown.
“We’re still very cautious and there are a number of controls in place.”
This week, parts of the Family Leisure Centre, including the workout equipment and ice rink, re-opened to patrons to book times and observe physical distancing and various other health requirements.
The pool, gymnasium and field house are scheduled to open week by week until the end of the month, while a schedule for reopening other recreation facilities and outdoor pools is still being developed.
Brown said that guidelines from the province for indoor pools require a “COVID monitor” to be present to observe patrons, ensure distancing and other health restrictions are being met.
Brown responded to a question from Coun. Jamie McIntosh about whether children can be expected to follow the rules, by saying that anyone not complying with the guidelines will be asked to leave.
Monitors will not attend locker rooms, said Brown, but those areas have been configured to encourage distancing.
Drop-in visitors will not be allowed, instead visitors must sign up for time slots and activities.
“We’ve said all along that we’ll take our own stance and we’ll wait until we’re absolutely sure that we can maintain our own staff’s safety and the public’s safety,” said Brown.
