Image Credit: YouTube / City of Kamloops

By Ashley Legassic

COVID-19

Kamloops mayor issues update on impacts to city services during COVID-19 pandemic

Mar 18, 2020 | 4:57 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian has taken to YouTube to provide an update on closures of City of Kamloops facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All closures are effective March 19 at 8:00 a.m. and include:

• City Hall apart from council and committee meetings
• Bylaw services office
• All fire halls except Fire Station No. 1 by appointment
• Downtown RCMP detachment, North Shore detachment urging people to make reports online or by other “electronic means”
• Development and engineering office except by appointment
• Sustainability office except by appointment
• Civic operations office except by appointment
• Human resources office
• Water treatment plant
• Sewage treatment plant

“That is serious news for the City of Kamloops, and I think it’s important perhaps that we dwell on what services we are providing,” Christian said in the video.

Kamloops Fire Rescue and Kamloops RCMP will be operating as usual in terms of attending matters.

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Bylaw services, emergency social services, residential garbage and recycling, landfills, recycling and yardwaste depots, and city parks will all remain open to the public.

Most other services, Christian said, can be available to the public by appointment only.

He added that BC Transit is operating at Level 2 of its pandemic response plan. He urges transit users to use social distancing while on city buses.

Christian says up to 200 City employees will be impacted by issues like school closures, limited access to daycare, and self-isolation regulations.

He says earlier today, he urged the provincial Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to ensure the government acts quickly in addressing the financial constraints that will impact Kamloops residents and business owners.

“I urge you to look after your neighbours,” he said. “Practice social distancing but let’s not leave anyone out. Let’s make sure that those seniors in our neighbourhoods and those that are shut-in or infirm, are able to access their neighbours and perhaps pick up groceries or things for them as they require.

“This is a time for the community to pull together as Kamloops always can.”