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Burnaby closing public facilities as coronavirus pandemic spreads

The announcement comes amid stark statements from federal and provincial health officials
shadbolt
The Shadbolt Centre of the Arts will have opera ringing through its halls on Saturday evening with Le Nozze di Figaro.

The City of Burnaby will be closing all city-owned facilities, including community centres, arenas, libraries, arts and cultural facilities, golf courses and restaurants, as the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus continues to spread.

The directive, which takes effect on Wednesday, March 18, comes at a time when federal and provincial officials insist on the need for people to stay home if they can. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, in a news conference Monday morning, also pushed for employers to allow employees to work from home when they are able to.

Mayor Mike Hurley said in a brief interview the city is working as the “world is changing before our eyes.” He said the city's emergency operations centre has been working throughout the weekend, and council met Monday morning to make some decisions on the matter.

“We understand this will have a significant impact on residents,” Hurley said in a news release.

“But this is an extraordinary time, and it’s important that we all do what’s necessary to contain the spread of coronavirus. Public health officials advise that the window of opportunity to flatten the curve in the spread of this virus is very narrow, and we must do all we can.”

The city said refunds will be given to anyone who registered for programs at now-closed facilities.

“This is a challenging time for all of us,” Hurley said. “It’s important that we stay active. I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy our city’s abundant open spaces, parks and natural areas.”

Although the RCMP’s community policing building is closing, the main detachment, local fire halls, the city’s warming centres and city hall will all remain open. Other city functions and services will continue to operate, the city said.The last week has been one of rapid change, with federal and provincial officials speaking daily to the spread of the most recent strain of the coronavirus and new measures being taken to slow that spread.

 

Hurley added in an interview the city will be working to beef up its work-from-home policy for city employees. An interim policy, obtained by the NOW, came into effect on Saturday, March 14, but it stops short of encouraging many employees to stay home.

Presently, the interim policy says working from home will be allowed or denied on a case-by-case basis. City spokesperson Chris Bryan said Monday morning that would mostly be in place for employees who live with someone who is immuno-compromised or who are compromised themselves.

According to the interim policy, employees need permission from the head of their department to work from home.

Hurley later clarified, albeit without details, that the city would be “stepping that up.”

Bryan and Hurley noted challenges with some employees working from home, with Bryan pointing to those working to fill potholes as an example.

“Anywhere we can do it successfully, we will certainly be looking to do that,” Hurley said.

More information, including a full list of closed facilities, can be found at burnaby.ca/covid19.