COVID-19 – Additional Impacts on City Programming and Facilities

Hello CUPE Members,

We have just received this email below from City of London, and are posting it here:

Hello everyone,

I’m writing to you tonight to let you know that after much consideration, we have made the decision that we will be cancelling a number of City programs and closing City facilities where those programs run, effective Monday, March 16. This includes the following:

·       Community centres

·       Arenas

·       Pools

·       Recreation and sport programming

·       Community rentals

·       March break day camp programs

All health agencies are discouraging large gatherings; we feel it is our obligation to support local, national and international efforts to slow down the spread of this virus. While difficult, we have made this decision to help keep our community and our staff healthy and well.

In addition to these cancellations, we will also be restricting visitors at Dearness Home to only essential visitors to remain consistent with protocols in place in other Long Term Care homes; the elderly population is particularly vulnerable to the symptoms of COVID-19, so we will make every effort to protect them from the spread of this virus.

We are in an extraordinary time when each of us has a responsibility to do as much as we can to slow the spread of COVID-19.  Health agencies agree that large gatherings put people at risk; these cancellations and closures come because there is nothing more important than the health and well-being of our staff and our community. Managers will be reaching out directly to staff who are impacted by this decision.

As you will know, this is a situation that is rapidly evolving. Our COVID-19 team continues to monitor this closely as well as to review and revise our business continuity plans. We will provide you with ongoing updates as the situation continues to evolve.

Public health agencies continue to be the best source of information about the spread of COVID-19 and about actions individuals should take to help slow the spread, including any restrictions that should be in place after travelling out of country. Please visit https://www.healthunit.com/news/novel-coronavirus for additional information.

Managers, please ensure this information is available to employees who may not have access to this information through email.

Thank you

Lynne