It’s going to be a critical few weeks.
That’s what Delta Mayor George Harvie says on how the city is working hard to maintain services despite a number of employees now in quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Harvie told the Optimist Friday that civic 70 employees are either in self-isolation because of potential exposure or sick and in quarantine.
He noted they also have as many people as possible working from home, while city hall is now closed to the public with secure drop-off boxes.
“We have a great team led by the premier and minister of health and medical health officer. As mayor and our team we need everyone to come on board in this next critical three weeks that we do everything possible to flatten that curve,” said Harvie.
He noted it’s been a fast-changing, challenging week with the evolving crises.
Spending a lot of time in a new emergency operations centre located at the new Boundary Bay fire hall, Harvie this past week had a local state of emergency declared which will enabled the city to implement additional measures to deal with the pandemic.
One example is the closure of playground equipment, although open fields and the beach are still open as long as people exercise common sense when it comes to social distancing.
“At Metro Vancouver’s Centennial Park, I visited it yesterday afternoon and it was as busy as there Polar Bear Swim with no recognition of social separation. So, we had to take steps and under the local state of emergency I contacted Metro Chair Sav Dhaliwal and ordered it closed and Metro fully cooperated. They took the step to close all their playgrounds in Metro Vancouver facilities,” said Harvie.
“We’re asking people to practice social distancing even outdoors and this virus is very contagious. Even our bike parks and skateboard park was packed with kids,” said Harvie.
He noted he’s still going out to walk his dog and exercise, mindful of social distancing, while keeping in touch with his son and family through social media to not take any risks.
