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Emergency Operations Centre COVID-19 Update #30

Contributor
By Contributor
April 29th, 2020

Submitted by City of Nelson Emergency Operations Centre

Nelson Council Adopts 25 Point Economic Stimulus and Financial Stability Plan

(Re-submitted from April 27)

At a special Council meeting held Thursday, April 23, Mayor and Council adopted a 25 point Economic Stimulus and Financial Stability Plan. 

The plan is in response to a revenue shortfall of up to $1,600,000 for 2020. In developing the plan, Council worked with the Chief Financial Officer and City departments to identify areas where expenditures could be reduced without compromising essential services. 

The key highlights of the financial stability plan include:

  • Zero percent property tax increase for 2020.
  • Zero percent fee increase for Nelson Hydro for 2020.
  • Zero percent increase in Nelson Hydro dividend to the City.
  • Zero percent wage increase for 2020.
  • General hiring freeze.
  • The flexibility for the replacement of critical positions and hiring if there are grant-funded positions.
  • Minimizing travel, training, legal fees and other discretionary costs.
  • The City has negotiated with its benefits carrier to reduce dental and extended health premiums by $40,000 per month.
  • An allowance of $100,000 for recovery and/or wildfire response activities.
  • A request to the Provincial Government to fund the operating shortfall for transit.

The City will be releasing further information on the Economic Stimulus Program and Community Support measures this week.

Read The Nelson Daily story:

Nelson Business Outreach Team Here to help all Businesses and Non-profits (Updated)

Last week the City announced the creation of a Business Outreach Program in partnership with the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership (NAEDP), which includes the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures Central Kootenay. The aim of this program is to connect with all local businesses and non-profits to:

  1. Make sure businesses are aware of the assistance that is available to them;
  2. Help businesses navigate federal, provincial and other programs to obtain the best possible assistance for their particular circumstances;
  3. Understand what other support businesses require to get through this pandemic; and
  4. Work with the business community to ensure our local economy will recover from the effects of the pandemic.

To date, the team has connected with over 300 businesses.

They are also connecting with local non-profits. If your non-profit has not been in touch with the Business Outreach team, please forward your contact name, email and telephone number to businessoutreach@nelson.ca.

Education Minister Says No Fixed Timeline Yet to Re-open BC Schools

At a provincial press conference this afternoon, Minister of Education Rob Fleming announced there was no date set for when BC schools would resume in-class learning.

The province continues to learn from other jurisdictions where schools are re-opening. Minister Fleming said “Ministry staff is researching controlled return to in-class instruction and speaking to other jurisdictions to see how they are transitioning. At the end of the day, it’s the science and the data around how we are combating COVID-19 that will determine what we do.”

He added, “We will return to regular school life down the road, and that return will be shorter and sooner, if we keep following safety measures.”

Interior Health Update: Expanded Testing for People with Symptoms

B.C.’s testing COVID-19 strategy has been expanded to include anyone with cold, influenza or COVID-19-like symptoms, however mild (although it is not recommended for people without symptoms). Testing is by appointment at any of the 14 sites across the health authority: 100 Mile House, Salmon Arm, Williams Lake, Nelson, Trail, Cranbrook, Vernon, Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Revelstoke, Sparwood, Grand Forks, and Golden. 

To get tested, call your primary care provider or the Nelson Testing Centre at (250) 551-7500.  

Read The Nelson Daily story.

Federal Health Official Provides Modelling; Numbers Improving, but Still a Marathon

At a news briefing this morning, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, unveiled updated federal modelling data which shows caseload growth is slowing across the country.

While the number of new cases was previously doubling every three days, it is now doubling every 16 days, which means the rate of infection is slowing. She also highlighted the regional differences that exist. While cases have levelled off in several provinces, the epidemic’s growth is currently being driven by Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.

Dr. Tam cautioned that in order to stay on course, Canadians must continue physical distancing, contact tracing and quarantine measures.

She said, “We all understand that if the virus accelerates again, that would be a massive setback to the gains that we’ve already had. So we’ve got to keep going at it. This is absolutely still a marathon.”

To view the modelling slideshow

The BC Government has provided the following information today:

COVID-19 Case Statistics:

  • Total cases in BC to date: 2053 — 803  in Vancouver Coastal Health; 918  in Fraser Health; 111  in Island Health; 168  in Interior Health (Increase of 4 in 24hrs); 45 in Northern Health
  •  Total fatalities in BC to date: 105 (Increase of 3 in 24hrs)
  • Total cases in Canada to date: 49,971
  • Total fatalities in Canada to date: 2860

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