The Town of Smithers is reducing access to some municipal facilities because of ongoing concerns with COVID-19.
In a press release posted on their website, it said the decision was made in the best interest of the community, Town Employees and the general public’s health and safety.
Smithers Fire Rescue Office, Smithers Regional Airport Administration Office and the Works and Operations Office are closed to the public.
In an emailed statement to The Interior News, Smithers CAO Alan Harris explained the rationale behind the move.
“With the declaration by the World Health Organization that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a PANDEMIC, the Town’s Influenza Pandemic Plan suggests that notices be placed at all workplace/facility entry points, advising staff and visitors not to enter if they have influenza symptoms,” he wrote.
“The rationale behind temporarily restricting access of non-employees to the Town’s offsite administrative offices at the Airport, Fire Hall, and Public Works is two-fold: the incubation period is estimated to be 5-6 days on average, with a maximum incubation period suggested to be 14 days; and the locations do not allow for adequate Social Distancing, a separation distance of at least two metres.”
Town Hall will remain open to the public for the time being.
Deputy mayor Gladys Atrill said the idea is to continue to offer administrative services to the public, but redirect public access to a single point, that being the Town office, where there are more stringent protocols and adequate space in place for preventing the spread of the virus.
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“The decision was taken by the administration just to try to minimize the contact and kind of get ahead of this a little bit,” she said.
She said the Town is also recommending people try to use remote means for accessing services such as paying bills with online banking or e-transfers.
Atrill believes making bold moves at this time may be for the best.
“This just may be one of those things where a bit of overreaction maybe is better than not reacting at all,” she said. “I think when this first started I was probably of a mind that ‘oh, it’s just another virus and probably it’s okay, the flu happens’ but if you watch things unfold day-to-day, where the outbreak has not been prevented, hospitals are just overwhelmed and I think the decisions that are being taken by the Canada public health officer, by our provincial public health officer, are just really smart.”
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