The City of Vernon continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in British Columbia and follow the directives and guidance of health authorities, senior levels of government, and WorkSafe BC in its response to the local impacts of the global pandemic.
Effective Thursday, July 1, the City of Vernon recommends that a mask be worn in publicly accessible portions of City facilities, for all people aged 12+ who are not yet fully vaccinated. According to public health officials, fully vaccinated means 14-days after receiving your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Most City facilities will be closed July 1 for Canada Day; however, the drop-in cooling centre will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Kal Tire Place.
Publicly accessible portions of City facilities include the reception and lobby areas of: City Hall, the Community Services Building, Operations Building, Vernon Water Reclamation Centre, Vernon Regional Airport, Bylaw Compliance Office, Fire Station 1, the Community Safety Office, and the RCMP Building. It also includes Council Chambers, and the lobbies, hallways, concourses and change rooms of all Greater Vernon Recreation facilities.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be dynamic and it requires us to regularly review and update our processes as necessary,” said Mayor Victor Cumming. “Over the last sixteen months, Dr. Henry – B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer – has talked about the layers of protection we can use to reduce the spread of infection and keep ourselves, each other, and our communities safe. The use of face masks and consistently washing hands and obtaining complete COVID-19 vaccination are layers of protection.”
To maintain a healthy and safe environment for our citizens, visitors and employees, the City of Vernon will keep a number of protective measures in place. The City will promote thoughtful physical distancing and provide protective barriers for the public and our staff. Some of the protective measures include:
- The continued use of plexiglass windows at reception counters
- Physical distancing markers for queuing
- Hand sanitizer and / or hand washing stations at facility entrances
- Enhanced cleaning protocols
Greater Vernon Recreation Services is working in coordination with the BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) to determine what additional protocols may need to be adjusted for its facilities and community programs, sports and activities. More information will be provided as that information becomes available.
The City of Vernon has an unwavering commitment to the health and safety of our community and will continue to review and adjust its protocols as necessary to align with the direction and guidance of the Provincial Health Officer, senior levels of government, WorkSafe BC, viaSport, and the BCRPA.
“A lot of careful and strict measures were put in place over the last year to protect residents in BC,” said Mayor Cumming. “We recognize that as some of these measures have changed or been removed, there will be varying levels of comfort by citizens and by staff members. Therefore, I strongly encourage everyone to stay patient, continue to be kind, and consider that we’re all learning how to adjust to the changes in our own way.”
The City appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding as we all navigate the impacts and changes required to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and successfully make our way through BC’s Restart Plan. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
For more information on the City’s response and community resources, please visit: www.vernon.ca/covid-19.
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