City of Calgary update on response to COVID-19 – May 1, 2020
The City of Calgary would like to remind citizens that we remain in a State of Local Emergency. This is to support the Province of Alberta’s efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. The City of Calgary, in collaboration with social agencies, the business community, civic partners and citizens, is taking immediate action to respond to COVID-19.
Please see below for the latest updates
The City of Calgary is reviewing the Government of Alberta's relaunch strategy, and working through an approach that will protect public safety.
“It is great to hear the Province’s plans laid out, and I hope what Calgarians took away is that a phased approach only works if we keep flattening the curve,” says Deputy Chief Sue Henry. “We need to maintain the progress we’ve achieved so far with COVID-19, while at the same time continuing to take care of our mental and physical health and the state of economy.”
Given that the majority (67 per cent) of Alberta’s cases are in Calgary, we are examining the Province’s plan carefully to ensure it fits our context.
“It’s wonderful that we’re starting to see some light in this tunnel, but we’re not there yet,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “We have to stay vigilant, be on our most conscientious behaviour and work together so that re-opening can happen and we can begin our recovery.”
Sports and activities
“We have changed a lot of rules in our lives to respond to COVID-19, I am now challenging you to reimagine how you can change some of the rules of your favourite sports that are banned,” says Deputy Chief Sue Henry. “You need to maintain physical distancing and you need to avoid common touch areas.”
Playgrounds remain closed. Skate parks are reopened but users must maintain two metres minimum distance and avoid touching surfaces including benches and railings. No more than 15 people are allowed in the same location.
The following outdoor activities are still prohibited on sports fields, play fields and courts, whether they are on City property or private property: football, basketball, baseball, cricket, lacrosse, soccer, doubles tennis, doubles badminton, double pickleball, field hockey, ultimate Frisbee, lawn bowling, volleyball and other organized or team sport that requires players to touch a shared ball or device with their hands. However, that does not apply to members of the same household or family who engage in an organized or team sport.
Sports in which the rules can be modified so that players are not required to touch or handle the same ball or device are permitted, including golf, disc golf, singles tennis, singles badminton, singles pickle ball, singles kayaking, river surfing. Again, users must follow the restrictions and requirements imposed by the Provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health by maintaining a distance of two metres minimum from one another and no more than 15 people in a group can be gathered at the same location.
At this time, City of Calgary-operated golf courses remain closed, however, the public will be notified if and when there are plans to reopen.
Businesses reopening
The City of Calgary is working with the Government of Alberta to have further clarify around the regulations concerning businesses opening as soon as stage one of the relaunch strategy.
“I know Calgarians want to return to shopping and dining at the businesses they know and love,” says Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “Businesses share our goal of opening up again in the right way to ensure the health and safety of their employees and customers.”
Weekly green cart pick up returning soon
Weekly green cart will be starting again the week of May 19, just in time for some May long weekend yard work. Calgarians can see the updated green cart schedule online at calgary.ca/collection, and sign up to receive free reminders or download the app to be automatically notified of service updates. Calgarians are being asked to fill up their green cart first before setting out extra bags. If there are extra yard waste, fill up paper yard waste bags. Roll the tops of the bags closed so collectors are able to collect them safely.
COVID-19 thank you ribbons on City vehicles
On Monday, April 27, 2020, Calgary City Council approved the application of a COVID-19 Thank You Ribbon on City vehicles to honour Calgary's front line workers and essential service staff. These ribbons are currently in production, and Calgarians will see these ribbons soon on Calgary Police units, Calgary Fire Department trucks, Calgary Transit buses and C-train cars, Waste and Recycling refuse trucks, and other City vehicles.
Canada Task Force 2 assisting in Fort McMurray
Canada Task Force 2 is deploying a small delegation to Fort McMurray to assist with the flooding.
Street sweeping
Community street sweeping started earlier in April and will be running until the end of June, on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The City of Calgary would like to thank Calgarians for helping crews get the roads cleaned quickly by moving vehicles off the streets. Community schedules can be viewed online at calgary.ca/sweep.
- 30 -