This sign at the entrance to the Territorial Place Mall parking lot reminds residents to stay two metres back from others in public. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Stay back

City concerned some people may still not be following COVID-19 public health orders

Apr 5, 2020 | 4:20 PM

The City of North Battleford is concerned some people may still not be following the COVID-19 pandemic provincial orders to maintain a distance of at least two metres from other individuals when in public and refrain from holding gatherings of more than 10 people.

The city has installed signs near the Territorial Place Mall and off Carlton Trail near Walmart to reiterate the message people must stay two metres back from others in public, as part of the province’s precaution measures in place.

“We certainly hope it is making a difference,” Mayor Ryan Bater said. “We are simply reinforcing messaging from the provincial government. The province has issued public health orders and has been urging all of our residents to stay at home as much as we possibly can, and when we do have to venture out for necessities, to maintain a minimum two-metre distance from each other.”

He said the city wants to remind the public to “respect those directives,” since they are very critical to everyone’s wellbeing during this period of the pandemic.

The mayor added in particular people have to be mindful of these protocols especially when grocery shopping when they are out in the public.

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Bater said when individuals go grocery shopping they should pick up the necessary food items “and then go home.”

When they return home they should disinfect the items they purchased and disinfect their countertops where they unpacked the products, because they don’t know who else may have touched the items previously.

“It’s really important to clean everything, disinfect everything, and of course to clean and disinfect your hands and your face as much as possible,” Bater stressed.

The mayor also reminds residents not to cluster for outings because that also puts themselves and others at greater risk of getting the virus.

“Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer has orders to all of us to maintain that two metres distance from everybody except those people with whom we live,” he said. “Obviously we are in close proximity with people we share a home with, but you should not be in close proximity to anybody that you don’t live with- whether it’s at work, or outside in a park at Finlayson Island or whatever takes you outside. It’s really important to maintain those distances.

“We are aware the virus is present in this province,” Bater added. “We are aware it is present in our community. We should all be behaving as if we have the virus and we don’t want to spread it to others.”

If people have a complaint about anyone not adhering to these provincial protocols they can call to make a formal report.

Bater said municipalities don’t have the power to enforce the provincial public health orders but there are other options. The provincial representative with whom the city has been meeting has been urging the city to use the toll-free line provided by the provincial public health officials who work with law enforcement to ensure compliance of the province’s public health orders.

“Those are important tools to use,” Bater said.

Numbers to call:

Residents can 811 for questions about COVID-19 related-health concerns. Bater said the province has added many more operators to answer calls for reduced wait times on the line.

Individuals inquiring about non-health-related questions about the COVID-19 pandemic can call the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s toll-free line at 1-855-559-5502.

If people are aware of any situations, such as large gatherings for example, where the public health orders announced by the province are being violated, they can call 1-888-298-0202 to make a report.

As well, a form is available on the City of North Battleford’s Facebook Page people can complete and submit if they see any incidents where individuals are not complying with the province’s public health orders in place.

“Public health orders are important; they are there for a reason,” Bater said.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow