NEWS RELEASE
THE TOWN OF PENETANGUISHENE
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UPDATE: March 16, 2020 - 5:30 p.m.
We are all in this together. To continue our efforts to socially distance and do our part to protect and care for our staff, residents and the public health we are aligning with proactive steps taken by other organizations as well as the recommendations from other levels of government and health authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff and residents related to the COVID-19 situation. Thank you to everyone for your patience and understand as well as those in our community who are stepping up to help those in need during this time.
We will continue watching, listening and learning, day by day, and will keep you posted as things evolve.
Current situation:
As of March 16, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is urging Canadians abroad to come home while they still can, as Canada is shutting the border to non-Canadian citizens, with limited exceptions to limit the spread of COVID-19. Permanent Canadian residents, the immediate family members of Canadian citizens, diplomats, air crews, and U.S. citizens are still being allowed into Canada at this time.
- Avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada.
- Immediately suspend all large events or public gatherings over 250 people.
- All Ontarians to practice social distancing as much as possible until further notice.
Steps already in place:
- Essential services such as Water, Wastewater and Fire and Emergency Services remain fully operational.
- The Recreation and Community Services Department has cancelled all programming activities until further notice. The Arena and Museum will be closed to the public but staff are still attending work as usual.
- The Library has cancelled all programming activities until further notice. The Library will be closed to the public and the public will be directed to their online services.
- Municipal Offices remain open and front-line staff are being asked to try, when possible, to keep a two-metre distance with customers and avoid contact such as hand shaking. For any contact with personal items, including money exchange, please be sure to wash or sanitize your hands after each interaction. Front-line staff will encourage customers to provide other forms of payment as opposed to cash (such as debit).
- Facility Staff are sanitizing Town facilities twice daily, with heightened focus on those areas that are still open to the public.
- Hand sanitizer is on order and will be provided to staff once it arrives. Disinfectants are also on order and are to be provided to each division upon delivery.
- Provincial Offences Court has been cancelled at Town Hall until further notice.
- The Emergency Management Community Control Group has been activated and is in the monitoring phase. Meetings will take place twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- A Pandemic Plan is being considered for the Town.
Next steps:
- Decisions with respect to holding Council Meetings and other Public Meetings will be discussed.
- Plans are being put in place to assist employees who must work from home due to 14 day self-isolation requirements.
- We will continue to distribute additional signage to Town buildings, as necessary.
- We will restrict large gatherings in any Town space.
- Non-essential staff home visits from and jobsite travel are to be suspended from March 16 until further notice.
- Non-essential meetings in person with the public or community groups are to be suspended from March 16 until further notice.
- Any and all non-emergent tender openings should wait. If they have to proceed, social distancing mechanisms will be put in place.
- With regards to public transit, we are in discussions with the Town of Midland regarding enhanced cleaning practices on buses as well as the posting of information/signage on all buses.
- The Senior Management Team will continue to meet regularly to discuss the ever evolving situation.
Please continue to follow the directions on public health authorities and take these actions to help you and your family stay healthy:
- Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.
- Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue. Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Keep surfaces clean and disinfected.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Maintain social distance of two metres.
- Avoid non-essential travel outside of? Canada
- If you have symptoms, call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or TTY 1-866-0007 or contact your Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7750 or http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/
Where to find more information:
Additional information about COVID-19 is available online at:
Public Health (www.publichealthontario.ca)
Government of Canada (www.canada.ca/coronavirus)
Government of Ontario (www.ontario.ca/coronavirus)
World Health Organization (www.who.int/coronavirus)
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (www.smdhu.org/coronavirus)
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