THE City of Vancouver said on Thursday that it continues to work with internal and external partners, including Vancouver Coastal Health, on a proactive approach to deal with COVID-19.

Right now, Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control has said the risk of transmission in Vancouver remains low and the City of Vancouver will adjust its response based upon updated advice from public health officials.

The City said in a statement: “The health and safety of the public and City staff is our top priority. As such, out of an abundance of caution, the City of Vancouver is increasing cleaning protocols at our facilities, distributing signage and directing members of the public and staff to stay home if they are feeling sick.”

“We have a rigorous planning process in place for multiple scenarios, including a pandemic. We have been ramping up our plans over the past few weeks in anticipation of the spread of COVID-19,” said City Manager Sadhu Johnston. “At this time we are not restricting public events at our facilities or in the community, however we are constantly in touch with provincial and local health authorities, monitoring the situation, and preparing to take further actions if we need to. Senior leaders are meeting regularly to address issues as they arise and make decisions that are best for our teams and the community. Under the leadership of the Vancouver Emergency Management Agency (VEMA), we have also activated the Emergency Operations Centre.”

What the City of Vancouver is doing:

·         Increasing cleaning protocols at all City of Vancouver, Vancouver Park Board and Vancouver Public Library facilities

·         Posting signage at all facilities reminding both members of the public and staff to stay away if they are feeling sick  

·         Activating the City Business Continuity plans to ensure we can maintain our core City services, such as water, sewers, police and fire.

·         Ensuring business critical staff have the right tools should they need to work from home

·         Working with the business community to assess and understand economic impact and potential strategies

·         Responding to questions from the public and our staff, and re-directing to Vancouver Coastal Health as needed

What you can do to protect us all:

·         Remain at home if you are feeling sick

·         Wash your hands

·         Cover your cough or sneeze