The Canadian Coast Guard’s Inshore Rescue Boat Program will be back in the area starting May 22.
Between May 22 and Sept. 7, the coast guard will be operating their inshore rescue boat program, with seasonal search and rescue stations set up in Kelsey Bay for Sayward, Friendly Cove for Nootka Sound and Cortes Bay Cortes Island.
“With the current COVID-19 situation, we know that people are concerned with visitors in their area, so we want to let you know ahead of time that we are taking the necessary precautions to keep your community safe,” reads a letter from the coast guard.
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The Coast Guard will be taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of everyone and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while they are in the area. The three personnel of each station will undergo a health screening prior to arrival and screened daily while on site. They will be in self-contained accommodation, do their own cooking and be physically distant from the community. Also, any on-water training will take place with strict protocols. The teams also have quarantine protocols in case anyone gets ill while on site, including isolation for the infected person and any of their close contacts.
“Our top priority is to ensure the safety of our personnel, and the people in the communities we serve,” reads the letter.
The Inshore Rescue Boat Program started in the 1970s and responds to calls for mariners in distress or in need of assistance. They also provide public education on boating safety. There are four stations on the west coast, the fourth located in Sointula.
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