Friday, April 21, 2020 – 4:15pm
COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE #25 – CITY OF NELSON
Shambhala Music Festival, Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival and Kootenay Pride Parade Postponed
Due to COVID-19, the organizers of the Shambhala Music Festival, Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival and the Pride Parade have postponed this year’s events to 2021.
Shambhala Festival Website: https://shambhalamusicfestival.com/
Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival: https://kaslojazzfest.com/29th-annual-kaslo-jazz-etc-festival-postponed/
Kootenay Pride: https://www.facebook.com/kootenaypride/
Ottawa Announces $350 Million for Community Groups Helping Vulnerable Populations
In today’s federal briefing, Prime Minister Trudeau announced emergency funding of $350 million for community groups and national charities that help seniors, the homeless and others made more vulnerable by the pandemic. Trudeau said these organizations are struggling to help more and more people due to the global pandemic. The funds will support community groups through national organizations such as the United Way Canada, the Canadian Red Cross and the Community Foundations of Canada.
The funds will support activities such as:
- Volunteer-based home delivery of groceries and medications.
- Transportation services, such as those driving seniors or persons with disabilities to appointments.
- Scaling up help lines that provide information and support.
- Helping vulnerable Canadians access government benefits.
- Delivering training and supplies to volunteers.
- Replacing in-person, one-on-one contact and social gatherings with virtual contact through telephone, texts, teleconferences or the internet.
To read the full media release: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/04/21/prime-minister-announces-further-support-help-canadians-need
Transport Canada - New measures for passengers to wear non-medical masks on all flights
As of Monday, April 20th, all airline passengers on all flights departing or arriving at Canadian airports will be required to demonstrate they have the necessary non-medical mask or face covering during the boarding process and travel, otherwise they will not be allowed to continue on their journey.
When travelling by air, travellers will be asked to cover their mouth and nose:
- at Canadian airport screening checkpoints, where the screeners cannot always keep two metres of separation between themselves and the traveller;
- when they cannot physically distance from others, or as directed by the airline employees; and
- when directed to do so by a public health order or public health official.
Quick Facts:
- Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering over the mouth and nose is another way to prevent your respiratory droplets from contaminating others or landing on surfaces.
- Existing public health and good hygiene practices including physical distancing and frequent hand washing, are still the most effective methods to limit the spread of the virus.
To read the full media release from Transport Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2020/04/new-measures-introduced-for-non-medical-masks-or-face-coverings-in-the-canadian-transportation-system.html
The BC Government has provided the following information today:
COVID-19 Cases:
- Total cases in BC to date: 1724
- 707 in Vancouver Coastal Health
- 715 in Fraser Health
- 109 in Island Health
- 153 in Interior Health (No new cases in 24hrs)
- 40 in Northern Health
- Total recovered cases in BC: 1041
- Total new cases in BC: 25
- Total fatalities in BC to date: 87 (Up 1 in 24 hrs)
- Total cases in Canada: 38,397
- Total fatalities in Canada: 1833
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Reminders:
For mental health support, please visit:
Wellness Together Canada : https://ca.portal.gs/
Anxiety Canada : https://www.anxietycanada.com/
BounceBack BC : https://bouncebackbc.ca/
Here2Talk for Post-Secondary Students: https://here2talk.ca/home
Psychological First Aid – Over 19+ - https://www.psychologists.bc.ca/covid-19-resources
Which businesses are open in Nelson?
https://www.nelsonkootenaylake.com/news
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’ on NotifyMe to receive automatic updates from the City via text or email.
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.
To check your symptoms or get updates from the BC Government you can download the BC COVID-19 App or visit this website
We thank you for doing your part to help maintain a safe and healthy community and for understanding the importance of this evolving situation.
Information from the BC Center for Disease Control on COVID-19
Media Contact:
Ginger Lester, EOC Information Officer glester@nelson.ca
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