Tuesday, April 28, 2020 – 4:40pm
COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE #30 – CITY OF NELSON
Nelson Council Adopts 25 Point Economic Stimulus and Financial Stability Plan (Re-submitted from April 27)
At a special Council meeting held Thursday, April 23, Mayor and Council adopted a 25 point Economic Stimulus and Financial Stability Plan. The plan is in response to a revenue shortfall of up to $1,600,000 for 2020. In developing the plan, Council worked with the Chief Financial Officer and City departments to identify areas where expenditures could be reduced without compromising essential services.
The key highlights of the financial stability plan include:
- Zero percent property tax increase for 2020.
- Zero percent fee increase for Nelson Hydro for 2020.
- Zero percent increase in Nelson Hydro dividend to the City.
- Zero percent wage increase for 2020.
- General hiring freeze.
- The flexibility for the replacement of critical positions and hiring if there are grant-funded positions.
- Minimizing travel, training, legal fees and other discretionary costs.
- The City has negotiated with its benefits carrier to reduce dental and extended health premiums by $40,000 per month.
- An allowance of $100,000 for recovery and/or wildfire response activities.
- A request to the Provincial Government to fund the operating shortfall for transit.
The City will be releasing further information on the Economic Stimulus Program and Community Support measures this week.
To read the full City of Nelson media release: http://www.nelson.ca/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=432
Nelson Business Outreach Team Here to help all Businesses and Non-profits (Updated) Last week the City announced the creation of a Business Outreach Program in partnership with the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership (NAEDP), which includes the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures Central Kootenay. The aim of this program is to connect with all local businesses and non-profits to:
- Make sure businesses are aware of the assistance that is available to them;
- Help businesses navigate federal, provincial and other programs to obtain the best possible assistance for their particular circumstances;
- Understand what other support businesses require to get through this pandemic; and
- Work with the business community to ensure our local economy will recover from the effects of the pandemic.
To date, the team has connected with over 300 businesses. They are also connecting with local non-profits. If your non-profit has not been in touch with the Business Outreach team, please forward your contact name, email and telephone number to businessoutreach@nelson.ca.
Education Minister Says No Fixed Timeline Yet to Re-open BC Schools
At a provincial press conference this afternoon, Minister of Education Rob Fleming announced there was no date set for when BC schools would resume in-class learning. The province continues to learn from other jurisdictions where schools are re-opening. Minister Fleming said “Ministry staff is researching controlled return to in-class instruction and speaking to other jurisdictions to see how they are transitioning. At the end of the day, it’s the science and the data around how we are combating COVID-19 that will determine what we do.” He added, "We will return to regular school life down the road, and that return will be shorter and sooner if we keep following safety measures.”
To read the CBC story: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-schools-update-education-minister-rob-fleming-covid-19-1.5547878
Interior Health Update: Expanded Testing for People with Symptoms
B.C.’s testing COVID-19 strategy has been expanded to include anyone with cold, influenza or COVID-19-like symptoms, however mild (although it is not recommended for people without symptoms). Testing is by appointment at any of the 14 sites across the health authority: 100 Mile House, Salmon Arm, Williams Lake, Nelson, Trail, Cranbrook, Vernon, Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Revelstoke, Sparwood, Grand Forks, and Golden. To get tested, call your primary care provider or the Nelson Testing Centre at (250) 551-7500.
To read the full media release: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/AboutUs/MediaCentre/NewsReleases/Documents/PSA_COVID19_ExpandedTesting_27April2020.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2xNcDGUweIVh1ycCMtGULTaUPYAxNk0PYzsHJysNeq6TkhVOm_Rgx092A
Federal Health Official Provides Modelling; Numbers Improving, but Still a Marathon
At a news briefing this morning, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, unveiled updated federal modelling data which shows caseload growth is slowing across the country. While the number of new cases was previously doubling every three days, it is now doubling every 16 days, which means the rate of infection is slowing. She also highlighted the regional differences that exist. While cases have levelled off in several provinces, the epidemic’s growth is currently being driven by Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Dr. Tam cautioned that in order to stay on course, Canadians must continue physical distancing, contact tracing and quarantine measures. She said, "We all understand that if the virus accelerates again, that would be a massive setback to the gains that we’ve already had. So we’ve got to keep going at it. This is absolutely still a marathon."
To view the modelling slideshow: http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/6879190/MODELLING-DECK-APRIL-28-732-FINAL-En.pdf
The BC Government has provided the following information today:
COVID-19 Case Statistics:
- Total cases in BC to date: 2053
- 803 in Vancouver Coastal Health
- 918 in Fraser Health
- 111 in Island Health
- 168 in Interior Health (Increase of 4 in 24hrs)
- 45 in Northern Health
- Total fatalities in BC to date: 105 (Increase of 3 in 24hrs)
- Total cases in Canada to date: 49,971
- Total fatalities in Canada to date: 2860
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Important Resources & Information – COVID-19
Which businesses are open in Nelson?
https://www.nelsonkootenaylake.com/news
BC Government Resources List for Support and Information during COVID-19
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support
Supports for Businesses in BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/employment-business-and-economic-development/business-management/small-business/covid-19_small_business_supports.pdf
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
Crisis Line Association of BC – 1-800 suicide (1 800 784-2433) - 24/7
www.crisiscentre.bc.ca - 24/7 - crisis and suicide intervention
Mental Health and Information Support Line - 310-6789 (no area code required)
Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868
www.kidshelphone.ca or text connect to 686868 - 24/7
Helpline for Children - 310-1234 (no area code required)
www.youthinbc.com - 24/7
VictimlinkBC – 1-800-563-0808 - 24/7
information, referrals. Immediate crisis support
HealthLinkBC - 811 or www.healthlinkbc.ca
For seniors looking for additional support at this time, call 211 or visit:
www.bc211.ca
Interior Crisis Line Network – 1-888-353-2273 - 24/7
Nelson Transition House – (250) 354-4357
24/7 - Specifically for women leaving or struggling in, an abusive relationship.
Nelson Police Department Victim Services – (250) 505-5657
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