Public Service Announcement
COVID-19 protection top priority for City
Rates of COVID-19 in the Edmonton region and the city continue to rise as the highly transmissible Omicron variant spreads. The City of Edmonton active case rate rose last week to more than 100 per 100,000 people for the first time in months. Preliminary data released on Wednesday indicates that the City of Edmonton active case rate is now over 400 cases per 100,000 people.
As we learn more about the variant and its health impacts, the City remains committed to helping Edmontonians, businesses and community groups navigate the latest COVID-19 wave. We continue to work side-by-side with the Government of Alberta, which is the health authority on COVID-19, along with those in the Ministry of Health. We also continue to coordinate with our regional partners on COVID-19 issues.
We are ready to adapt to changing public health orders at a moment’s notice. In addition to the Mayor and City Manager meeting over the winter break, members from the City of Edmonton COVID-19 task team continually evaluate how to best support and protect Edmontonians during the pandemic.
Service Implications
So far, there have been no service impacts due to COVID-19 spread. We continue to work through the organization’s contingency plans in the event more cases of COVID-19 require the isolation of City of Edmonton employees. Critical service areas such as snow and ice control, transit, recreation centres, waste services and emergency services will be prioritized to operate, even if there are service slow downs in other areas due to COVID-19. Should adjustments to resident-facing services be required, the City will inform Edmontonians as soon as possible.
Current Safety Measures
There are many measures in place currently to help protect Edmontonians from the Omicron variant, including:
Edmonton Transit Service:
Enhanced disinfecting and cleaning on buses, trains, DATS vehicles, transit centres and LRT stations.
Wearing face coverings or masks are required when on buses and LRT, at indoor transit centres and LRT platforms. Where possible, physical distancing is also required.
Deploying buses with operator shields in order to create a mutually-protective barrier.
Piloting germ-killing push plates on the doors of LRT stations.
Recreation centres and attractions:
Participating in the province’s restrictions exemption program and requiring all guests to provide proof of vaccination, negative test, or medical exemption before entering.
This includes 12 to 17 year olds participating in youth sports, which is a stronger measure than the Government of Alberta requires.
Active screening upon facility entry, including reminding people to stay home when sick, use of hand sanitizer, washing hands, and masking between activities.
Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, including using electrostatic spraying.
All recreation centres are operating at a maximum of 50 per cent capacity.
Prohibiting food and drink in large venues with seating for over 500.
Testing and vaccination support:
Hosting Alberta Health Services to do testing at Edmonton EXPO.
Ready to offer additional City sites for vaccinations, as required.
Providing access to the temporary shelters at the Commonwealth Stadium shelter and the Spectrum shelter for vaccination of houseless clients.
Personal protective equipment distribution:
Providing additional face masks and sanitizer to social agencies serving the houseless population.
Providing masks at public washrooms where attendants are in place.
Small Business and Non-Profit Grant Funding:
Grants to small businesses and festival organizers for personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies to protect their staff and clients.
Supplementary grants to social agencies serving the houseless population to expand their physical capacity to ensure adequate space to maintain services.
Masks and Face Coverings:
Masks or face coverings are required in all indoor public places. The City’s mask bylaw remains in effect and can be enforced by City enforcement officers. EPS and provincial officers can also enforce the public health orders put in place by the Government of Alberta.
Limiting the spread of COVID-19 within the City workforce:
Requiring all City of Edmonton employees to be fully vaccinated or participate in a rigorous rapid testing process.
City employees who can work from home are doing so in compliance with the provincial public health order to decrease transmission.
City employees who are on site at a workplace are required to complete pre-shift screening, wear face coverings, and remain distanced wherever possible.
Other actions undertaken to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and promote safety and mental well being of Edmontonians:
Approximately 20,000 signs and decals were produced and posted in public open spaces, facilities, shared streets and lane closures to explain requirements for safe behaviours.
Working with community and health partners to expand efforts to address the increase in overdose incidents, exacerbated by the impacts of COVID-19.
Providing Psychological First Aid Pandemic training to interested community partners.
Advice on Self Protection
According to Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, getting a vaccine is the best way to protect yourselves, your family and your community from COVID-19. Vaccines help prevent infection and protect you from getting severely sick if you develop COVID-19. All vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. If you have not done so already, book your vaccination appointment or walk-in to a participating pharmacy today. A list of locations is available now across Alberta.
It is vital that all Edmontonians protect themselves from COVID-19 by continuing to wash their hands, wear a face covering and keep physically distant from others. Stay home if you are feeling unwell, even if symptoms are mild. If you have access to a rapid test, use it and then follow the most current advice from the Government of Alberta.
For more information:
Pinoy Edmonton News 