March 18, 2020 – 5:30pm

COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE – CITY OF NELSON

Nelson, BC –  The Province of British Columbia has declared a State of Emergency in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City’s Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) team led by Director of Emergency Management, Len MacCharles, has been in operation as of March 16. The EOC team, including senior managers and others, continues to work with the provincial authorities to coordinate our response.   To help provide important information to our community, the City of Nelson has developed a dedicated webpage nelson.ca/covid19 that will be updated frequently as new information becomes available.  Please sign-up for ‘City News & Public Notices’ on NotifyMe to receive automatic updates from the City via text or email.

Please note the following operational updates:

Public Works:

With more people using different methods of disinfection, please remember that ANY disposable wipe products, including baby wipes, wet-wipes, paper towels, and fabric rags can easily plug your home’s sewer service, causing messy back-ups in your basement. These products do not break-down in water like toilet paper, so please dispose of these items in your household garbage and do NOT flush them down toilets or sinks.

Nelson Police Department:

The Nelson Police Department front counter will be closed until further notice. In case of emergencies, people can still attend the front walkway and ring the buzzer to speak with one of our communication staff. Most inquiries for both police or bylaw staff should be made through our non-emergency line at (250) 354-3919. Citizens should still contact 9-1-1 in cases of emergencies, such as injury accidents and crimes in progress. Both the non-emergency and 9-1-1 lines will continue to be answered by local Nelson Police dispatchers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Nelson Public Library:

Although the Nelson Public Library building is closed to the public, there are still a number of services available. Library staff are available to answer any questions by phone or email. Their online library is open 24/7 where patrons can access eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines, videos, free online courses and more. If you do not have a library card, you can register online. For more information, visit www.nelsonlibrary.ca, call (250) 352-6333 or email library@nelson.ca.

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Many people in our community have travelled or they (or their family members) will be returning. It is critical that you follow the requirements of the BC Public Health Officer. Currently, information supports that approximately 90% of all confirmed cases are a result of travel outside of Canada.

The City of Nelson relies on Interior Health, BC Public Health, and the Federal Government for information related to the virus itself. If you believe you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your physician, or call the COVID-19 telephone line at 1-888-COVID19, to be assessed or call the testing clinic hotline at (250) 551-7500 to be triaged for testing.   Symptoms of COVID-19 include coughing, fever, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms may not present themselves for up to 14 days, but you may be a carrier of the virus; therefore it is important to follow the guidelines set out by the health experts.  

We thank you for doing your part to help maintain a safe and healthy community and for understanding the importance of this evolving situation.

Media Contact:

Ginger Lester, EOC Information Officer glester@nelson.ca

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