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COVID-19 ADJUSTMENTS

Mustard Seed operations adjust with COVID-19 prevention practices

Mar 23, 2020 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — The COVID-19 virus is impacting every aspect of society, including organizations in Kamloops trying to deliver essential services for the homeless population.

At the Mustard Seed downtown, there are now limits on how many people can come into the dining room space.

Clinic and Advocacy Services Manager Michaela Jyrkkanen says staff are sanitizing any person who comes through their doors to keep people safe during this crisis.

“Occupancy is maxing out at about 45 people right now,” she says, “So once people come in they can have their lunch, and then we’re asking people who are younger to step out for the day so we can keep some of the older population, people in wheelchairs, people with disabilities, and those coexisting conditions, so that they’re inside and they’re a bit safer.”

The Mustard Seed is also closing for an hour every day to do extra cleaning around the building.

“We’re cleaning while people are inside more frequently, getting staff to hand sanitize when they can. We’re trying to be extra vigilant to not only keep our staff safe but our guests as well,” she explains, “When we have guests from different areas of town all coming in and congregating and meeting here, and then they leave at the end of the day and go back to the areas they’re living in, we’re trying to keep it so there’s less of a chance of spread through those different areas.”