It was the last skating for awhile at the Cobourg Community Centre on Thursday, March 12,2020.
The Town of Cobourg would like to inform residents of the numerous precautions its taking to prevent against COVID-19 (formerly called novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV) within the corporation itself and its many highly visited facilities including now the postponement of all events, programs, meetings and large gatherings held in municipally-owned buildings in an effort to encourage social distancing.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic, an infectious disease that spreads quickly around the world.
Yesterday, based on advice from Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and the experts at the COVID-19 Command Table, the Minister of Education has issued a Ministerial Order to close all publicly funded schools in Ontario for two weeks following March break, in response to the emergence in Ontario of COVID-19. This order was approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
Today, as March Break approaches the Town of Cobourg is now taking decisive action to ensure the well-being of our citizens is our top priority. Given the latest developments, we are taking the following further action:
• As of Friday, March 13, 2020 all Town-events, programs and classes taking place at the Cobourg Community Centre, Concert Hall at Victoria Hall, Fire Hall Theatre, Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre and Victoria Hall will be postponed effective immediately. This includes all classes, recreational programs, facility spaces, March Break camps, gymnasiums, rinks and walking spaces.
• All Municipal buildings will remain open but citizens are discouraged from gathering in them.
• All Local Advisory Committee Meetings and Quasi-Judicial Boards will be postponed.
• The Municipal Council Meeting will still be taking place on Monday, March 16th but citizens are not encouraged to attend if they don’t need to and encouraged instead to watch the LIVE stream on the Town’s YouTube channel.
• All Statutory Public Meetings will still be taking place.
We know that citizens may be experiencing heightened levels of worry associated with COVID-19 and it is important to reiterate that Public Health continues to assure us that the risk of becoming ill from COVID-19 in Ontario currently remains low.
We thank you for your patience and understanding and would like you to be reassured that we will continue to work to keep our staff and the public safe and healthy.
Stay Informed
Citizens are encouraged to visit the HKPR District Health Unit’s website www.hkpr.on.ca for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. In addition to the daily updates to the website, Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, Medical Officer of Health for the HKPR District Health Unit., will continue to provide updates on COVID-19 through their website.
More Information
The Town of Cobourg has launched a website in regards to COVID-19 municipal communications. Updates will be posted to www.cobourg.ca/covid19 as they come in.
Reduce Your Risk
The HKPR District Health Unit recommends the following to reduce the spread of germs including the flu and COVID-19:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm, not your hand
• Stay home if you are sick
• If you are ill and must visit a hospital emergency department, clinic or other health care provider, call ahead or tell them when you arrive that you have a respiratory illness and wear a mask while waiting to be seen. This allows health care workers to reduce the potential spread of illness.
• Avoid visiting people in hospitals or long-term care homes if you are sick
• Get your flu shot
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
