So far, it’s business as usual at the Cowichan Valley Regional District, and all services remain available, though the CVRD does recommend taking some precautions against virus COVID-19.
The CVRD issued a press release Wednesday afternoon, following a declaration by the World Health Organization that morning that COVID-19 is now officially a global pandemic.
“I want to provide an update to our communities regarding possible impacts stemming from the emerging situation around the COVID-19 virus,” said CVRD chair Aaron Stone. “It is important to know that the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) takes this matter seriously. We are doing our best to support public health, while also ensuring that we continue to provide local and regional service delivery.”
The CVRD is encouraging people to “practice social distancing”, including staying home if you feel unwell, avoiding physical contact including handshaking and hugging, covering your mouth if you cough or sneeze and washing your hands frequently.
“The CVRD will be working closely with our partners, including our member municipalities, First Nations and the Vancouver Island Health Authority in the coming days. We will be providing updates to the public as required to keep you informed of our response and any known or anticipated impacts to service delivery,” Stone concluded.
In other political news, the Green Party cancelled all leadership campaign events in the province on Wednesday afternoon due to COVID-19.
Leadership hopeful and Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau said that while she is disappointed not to be able to get out and meet people in person as she was planning over the next week with visits planned for numerous communities in the Interior, “we have a responsibility as political leaders to exercise the best practices recommended by experts. Experts are increasingly calling for Canadians to take action to reduce and slow the transmission of COVID-19 through social distancing. The health and safety of British Columbians must be our first priority.”
She said she hopes to organize online town hall meetings instead.
“I extend my sincere apologies to the communities that I have been unable to visit, and my thanks to community organizers and my campaign team, who have been working hard to prepare for this trip,” Furstenau said. “If the advice from the Party and experts changes prior to the conclusion of the leadership campaign, we will do everything in our power to reschedule events.”
For more information on COVID-19 go to:
https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/diseases-conditions/novel-coronavirus-information