EMO News Release - May 15, 2020

COVID-19 Parksville-Qualicum Beach Community Update

Please stay safe this Victoria Day long weekend. Stay close to home; continue to keep your bubble small by minimizing time in close contact with those outside your household. If gathering with families and friends in small groups, gather outside rather than inside and the fewer people you see the better. To quote Dr Bonnie Henry, "fewer faces, bigger spaces." Thank you for doing your part to keep us all safe.

GENERAL UPDATES AND INFORMATION

Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Program

This program provides tourism businesses on Vancouver Island (including Victoria), the Southern and Northern Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast with meaningful, one-on-one support to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapt and work towards long-term resiliency.

Tourism businesses will be paired with a program advisor for the duration of their recovery who, through a needs assessment consultation, will facilitate customized support for each business including navigating available federal and provincial aid and access to Program Experts in finance, human resources, legal services and more. A digital resource hub provides regular webinars and additional resources specific to the needs of tourism businesses. Learn more and register for the program or call 1 855 722-9036, Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.

BC COVID-19 Population Health Survey

On May 12, the Public Health Officer announced the BC COVID-19 Population Health Survey which has been developed to address the continuing global spread of the virus which will require ongoing public health surveillance and response activities in 2020. The unintended impacts on the social, physical health, mental wellness and resiliency of communities are not well understood. The BC Centre for Disease Control ("BCCDC"), a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, wants to understand the impacts of COVID-19 for all BC residents, and to plan the approach for future public health measures.

The purpose of the voluntary survey is to learn more about BC residents' general knowledge and perceptions of risk around COVID-19, and how the current environment around us may affect our health and wellness and our lives in general. The responses from the survey will be used to inform future plans. Survey participants will have an opportunity to learn about future initiatives they can support. The survey includes questions to guide public health decision making with regard to testing strategies, management of cases and contacts, measures targeted at the individual and community level, broader policy considerations and equity. Here is link to the survey: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-survey

Oceanside Business Recovery Program

Parksville & Qualicum Beach Chambers of Commerce will host the Oceanside Business Recovery Program on Thursday, May 14 at 7 pm via Zoom. Go to https://conta.cc/2Ww3OMU to sign up and get meeting details.

Westjet Nanaimo to Vancouver

WestJet recently announced the twice-daily Nanaimo to Vancouver flight will begin on July 4. Service between Nanaimo and Calgary is operational, running three flights a week on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants from Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation

PQCF is currently accepting applications for a program intended to assist communities in District 69 to ease isolation of residents, seniors and youth. To alleviate isolation challenges, local residents can apply for up to $500 for projects that connect people socially, or share skills and talents. Projects must stay within guidelines for physical distancing. The end date will be determined based on public health orders and eligibility details and application is on the PQCF website: https://www.parksvillequalicumfoundation.com.

RDN Transit

Starting June 1, RDN Transit service will return to front door loading and collection of fares. Temporary vinyl panels will be installed for operators and riders to support physical distancing as well as enhanced cleaning on buses.

UPDATES FROM CITY OF PARKSVILLE

City Facilities

The City's off-leash dog park at Springwood Park and the skate park in the Parksville Community Park will open for this weekend. All other City facilities which were closed in mid March to help limit the spread of COVID-19 will remain closed for now.

Public Engagement and Communications Survey

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting physical distancing measures have changed how we connect with our residents. We are adjusting to doing business during the pandemic and exploring how to continue public engagement while being respectful of restrictions now in place. As we move the business of the City forward and are not able to meet in person or larger groups, we are looking for input from residents to determine if there is an interest in engaging with us on projects.

The link to the survey is provided here and may be accessed from the City's website and our public engagement platform, Let's Talk Parksville. The survey will be open until June 7. If you wish to have a paper copy of the survey mailed to you, call 250 248-6144. Please direct questions to communications@parksville.ca.

UPDATES FROM TOWN OF QUALICUM BEACH

  • A 'Pop-up Parade' by the Qualicum Beach Rotary Club and the Qualicum Beach Fire Department was held on Wednesday night. The parade supported local business and thanked frontline support workers. Video is available here.
  • The Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course is now open to the general public.

HEALTH REMINDERS

This information is being passed along, taken from the COVID-19 Going Forward presentation on May 4 by BC Ministry of Health.

Key Principles Going Forward

✓Staying informed, being prepared and following public health advice.

✓Practicing good hygiene (hand hygiene, avoid touching face, respiratory etiquette, disinfect frequently touched surfaces).

✓Staying at home and away from others if feeling ill - not going to school/work.

✓Maintaining physical distancing outside the household (e.g. no hand shaking or hugging, small numbers of contacts and keeping a safe distance). ✓Making necessary contact safer with appropriate controls (e.g. plexiglass barriers, room design).

✓Increasing environmental cleaning at home and work.

✓Considering the use of non-medical masks in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained (e.g. on transit, shopping).

✓Reducing personal non-essential travel.

Keeping your cool during COVID-19

We are all facing challenges "as we move into our second month of physical distancing, many of us have barely left home, so it's little wonder some of us are in a "heightened emotional state," better known as grumpy." From an article published by Dr Diane McIntosh, BSc Pharmacy, MD, FRCPC (Psychiatrist; General Manager, Copeman Healthcare; Chief Neuroscience Officer, TELUS) https://www.telushealth.co/item/keeping-cool-covid-19/

STAY INFORMED

We will keep you informed of any changes to how the Town of Qualicum Beach and the City of Parksville operate as this pandemic evolves. City staff and elected officials are practicing physical distance and sanitizing protocols and many services continue to be available by phone, email and online, please refer to your municipality for contact information. Health-related information is available from:

For information, contact:

Rob Daman, Emergency Program Coordinator, Town of Qualicum Beach

rdaman@qualicumbeach.com

Aaron Dawson, Emergency Program Coordinator, City of Parksville

adawson@parksville.ca

Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications, City of Parksville

dtardiff@parksville.ca


Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

Consultation has concluded