COVID-19 Status Update

May 15, 2020

To aid in resident's understanding of Hinton Emergency Operation Centre, Hinton Town Council, and Town of Hinton Administration responses to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic event, this update gathers recent news into one document. While emergent issues and information will continue to be shared as necessary, weekly updates going forward will use this format to gather, but also distinguish between, actions in place in the community.

Physical Distancing, Provincial Group Restrictions, and Cleaning Practices Must Continue

It is essential that residents and businesses understand that suppression activities, in particular maintaining safe distances, must be maintained.

If not maintained, transmission will rapidly rebound, potentially producing an epidemic comparable in scale to what would have been seen had no interventions been adopted.

The Town, and Province, need your help to continue to restrict your activities in the interest of community health. Distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing is absolutely crucial.

Residents, businesses, and visitors choosing to remain non-compliant on physical distancing or gathering parameters can, and should, anticipate provincial fines being levied directly moving forward.

This includes groups who happen to gather by chance in parks, green spaces, or in areas like the dog or bike park.

Groups of 15 or more can, and will, be ticketed under provincial restrictions.

We are all in this together, in the effort of protecting our most vulnerable.

Thank You
The Town of Hinton Emergency Operations Centre thanks all residents and businesses for your cooperation during our State of Local Emergency. Your actions, sacrifices, and compliance assisted us in rapidly responded to a global pandemic event.

Hinton Emergency Operations Centre

SOLE Ends
The Hinton State of Local Emergency has ended, and is not planned to be renewed at this time.

This concludes any and all restrictions imposed locally by the SOLE. This includes more restrictive measures added locally above and beyond provincial restrictions, such as local occupancy limits, stricter cleaning parameters,

It does not impact the current state of the Provincial Public Health Order. The Town of Hinton is not able to lessen, or remove, any restrictions imposed as part of the Province's state of Public Health Emergency.

View Provincial COVID-19 status webpage here.

Requests Remain
The Town of Hinton does continue to ask that citizens treat the entire community as on leash to continue to promote physical distancing.

Hinton Reopened Webpage, Links to Provincial Reopening Documents, Available

On Tuesday (May 05, 2020), the Hinton Emergency Advisory Committee reviewed and approved the release of the Town of Hinton - Reopened Document. Created by the Emergency Operations Centre based on our local plan and Provincial direction, the document reiterates provincial parameters and details items strategized for revision between now and May 14, the Provinces identified timeline for Stage One of the Public Health Order Reopening.

Find the document here.
Find the webpage here.
Find the Reopening Documents Links here.

Page 6 of Reopening Document

Phase 1 is now Fully in Place

This phase will allow some businesses and services to reopen and resume operations with two metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidance in place.

This includes:

Post secondary institutions will continue to deliver courses however how programs are delivered whether online in-person or blended will depend on what restrictions remain in place at the time of relaunch. *
Retail businesses such as clothing, furniture, and book stores *
Some personal services such as hairstyling and barber shops *
Museums and art galleries *
More scheduled surgeries and dental procedures *
Physical therapy, chiropractic, optometry, and similar services *
Daycares with limited occupancy *
Removal of SOLE
Re-opening of play structures and skate park
- Considered use at own risk
Summer camps with limits on occupancy. (This could include summer school.)*
Rules and guidance for the use of masks in crowded spaces, especially on transit. *
Dine-in restaurants , cafes, lounges and bars to 50per cent capacity*
Nightclubs, Movie Theatres, gyms, pools, recreation centres and arenas will remain closed. *
Public attendance at businesses, facilities and events that have close physical contact will not be permitted, including*:
- arts and culture festivals*,
- major sporting events* and
- concerts*

* = Items of provincial jurisdiction, subject to provincial decision (read more here)

Business with questions regarding reopening parameters particular to their business are encouraged to contact BizConnect@gov.ab.ca

Provincial Restrictions Remain

The Province of Alberta's Public Health Emergency has a significant number of Public Health Orders which remain in effect. Find the list here, or view the list below or image above for further information.

Mandatory 14-day isolation for returning international travellers or close contacts of people with confirmed COVID-19.
Mandatory 10-day isolation for people with symptoms that are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition: cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat.
Restrictions on gatherings and restricted services are now legally enforceable and subject to fines.
New operational protocols, including limited visitation, are now enforceable for all nursing homes, designated supportive living and long-term care facilities, seniors lodges and any facility in which residential addiction treatment services are offered.
New outbreak standards are now in place for operators, managers and staff at all congregate health settings, including all hospitals, nursing homes, designated supportive living and long-term care facilities, seniors lodges and facilities in which residential addiction treatment services are offered.

- https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-orders-and-legislation.aspx

Enforcement

Businesses allowed to open will be carefully monitored for compliance with public health orders.

If Albertans are concerned that a business is not following public health orders, they can:

remind the business owner or operator that not following public health orders is against the law and puts people at risk
submit a complaint to AHS public health inspectors online or by phone at 1-833-415-9179 by leaving a message when prompted

Complaints that require an immediate response can also be reported to your local police force through their administrative phone line. Please do not call 911.
Submit a complaint online

- https://www.alberta.ca/restricted-and-non-restricted-services.aspx

Using Outdoor Spaces

Sharing the path
People of all ages and mobility enjoy the outdoor paths. Please be considerate and aware of all path users.

All cyclists should be using their bell when passing others on the paths. When you are approaching someone, ring your bell, slowdown, and pass off path when safe to do so.
If you are using the paths and you hear a bell, please slow down, look around, and move off path if you need to.

Runners please allow enough room to safely pass others.

Hinton Town Council

During a Standing Committee Meeting of Council on Tuesday (May 12, 2020), Council discussed HYAC and HR policies. Find the video at Hinton.ca/CouncilLive.

Council meetings are closed to the public and occurring via teleconferencing. However, they are being live streamed via Youtube to allow residents to remain engaged in the democratic process in this pandemic event.

Town of Hinton Administration

Business Resources Now Available via Links on Town Website
For the purpose of resident/business owner convenience, the Town of Hinton Economic Development Officer has provided links to provincial downloads, as well as our local Reopening Document, via Hinton.ca/Reopened.

Kick it to the Curb/Spring Cleaning Cancelled

The Town of Hinton Infrastructure Services Division has made the difficult decision to cancel Kick it to the Curb and Annual Spring Cleaning events due to COVID-19 response. Thank you for your understanding.

Town Facility Closures/Changes

Please use the above table for information purposes. The Town of Hinton is working to bring our own openings in line with the Provincial guidelines, decisions, and recommendations. Further updates will be provided as new decisions are reached.

Community Playgrounds / Structures Reopened
All community playgrounds / structures have been reopened. This does not include washrooms, outhouses, or seasonally closed facilities. All facilities that have been reopened are considered "use at your own risk". The Town does not maintain sterilization of playground structures. Individuals using parks as asked to continue to use physical distancing to inhibit potential spread.

Learn More

The next scheduled COVID-19 related update is Thursday, May 21, 2020.

Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 07, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 01, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 30, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 23, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 16, 2020)

Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 09, 2020)
Town of Hinton COVID Webpage
Town of Hinton Defer Webpage
Town of Hinton SOLE Webpage
Province of Alberta COVID Webpage
Province of Alberta - Emergency Management Act
Government of Canada COVID Webpage
World Health Organization COVID Website

Questions

Residents with questions are asked to contact info@hinton.ca. Responses may be delayed due to EOC needs.

Members of local media with questions are asked to use the Public Information Officer contact information by clicking here or call 780-865-6001 and leave a message. Messages regarding PIO response will be returned within one business day.