COVID-19 Status Update

January 14, 2021
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.

Hinton Emergency Operations Centre

The Hinton Emergency Operations Centre remains active, receiving guidance from both the Province and Local Agencies on statuses and needs. The below information represents a digest of relevant information considered important to pass on to local audiences.

CONSULT THE PROVINCIAL WEBSITE FOR UP TO THE MINUTE STATUS
BY CLICKING HERE.

Physical Distancing 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.

To view current Provincial Restrictions, please visit the Government of Alberta's COVID web site, available here.

Mandatory Measures Remain in Place

Due to Alberta’s high case numbers, aggressive action is still required to protect our health system from being overwhelmed.

The current situation is still critical. These mandatory restrictions apply provincewide and will be in place at least until January 21, 2021.

Health officials actively continue to evaluate the situation and will adjust measures if required. Businesses, organizations and service providers will be given at least 1 week notice prior to changes to the current health measures that may affect them.

All indoor and outdoor social gatherings are prohibited. This will be enforced with $1,000 fines.
Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces and workplaces.
Working from home is mandatory when physical presence is not required.
Current child care and K-12 learning measures remain in effect.
Effective Dec. 13, some businesses are required to temporarily close, reduce capacity or limit their in-person access.

The above summary does not include all parameters, restrictions, exemptions, and particulars. For further information, access the Provincial Website here or the Town of Hinton COVID-19 website Hinton.ca/COVID.

R-Score Progress Observed

The provincewide R-value is 0.90, meaning that each person who contracts COVID-19 will transmit coronavirus to less than one other person, on average.

Contact Tracing Work Underway

Alberta is improving its contact tracing system, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday, with high-priority cases now being contacted within 24 hours of a positive test. The percentage of cases with an unknown source is now down to 47 per cent, after spending much of the last few months above 80 per cent.

View Tuesdays address here.

Strong Words for Businesses who Open Against Guidelines

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, had strong words on Wednesday for business owners around the province who have broken public health restrictions.

"Businesses that reopen despite restrictions are increasing close contacts in their community and making it harder for others".

Read the transcript here.

Hinton Town Council

The most recent Hinton Town Council meeting was Tuesday, January 12, 2021. It was livestreamed via Youtube with an agenda that included discussions around an all wheel park and delegations.

The next meeting is scheduled for January 19, 2021. Residents interested in taking part in Minute with Council can click here to submit their appointment notice (more information below).

Minute with Council Access (repeated)

Early in the Town Response to COVID-19, Town Council meetings were moved to remote environments, closed to the public, and streamed online to allow for easy access by residents. However, one aspect of our Council meetings that was lost in this necessary response was Minute with Council.

Traditionally, Residents have been welcomed to speak to Council about issues, events, celebrations or concerns during Minute with Council. At the beginning of each Council Meeting, the chair of the meeting opens the floor to the public to speak and share with Council members, administration and meeting observers.

As we determine the "new normal" in this pandemic response, the Town of Hinton has established a procedure to take part in Minute with Council remotely, temporarily, as we prepare for further steps in our reopening plans.

This process is being established to avoid risks of public meeting teleconferencing, such as inappropriate or abusive interjections by anonymous or false identities.

We appreciate your understanding should this cause any inconvenience for you.

Please use this form to receive an invite code to join our proceedings remotely.

Should you encounter difficulty using the form, please call 780-865-6072.

Read more here.

Town of Hinton Administration

All Facilities Closed

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the Province of Alberta announced new restrictions in place in Alberta until at least January 12, 2021, in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (please familiarize yourself with all restrictions, as viewable on the Provincial Website, Town of Hinton COVID Website, or CivicSend).

In response to these announced restrictions, Town of Hinton CAO Emily Olsen and Senior Leadership have made decision that all Town Buildings will be closed to the public effective Sunday, December 13, 2020. This action has been extended in line with the province's own extension to at least January 21, 2021.

These closures make all buildings only accessible by the public on an appointment basis. In the interest of continuity of service to our community, we are including key information for important facilities in Hinton, below.

General
- Key Phone Number: 211
Corporate Services
- Key Phone Number: 780-865-6016
- Key Email: bsirois@hinton.ca
Development Services
- Key Phone Number: 780-865-6010
- Key Email: development@hinton.ca
Family and Community Support Services
- Key Phone Number: 780-865-6036
- Key Email: ccasemore@hinton.ca
Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre
- Key Phone Number Staffed: 780-865-4412
- Key Phone Number Automated: 780-865-6066
- Key Email: recreation@hinton.ca
Infrastructure Services, Parks
- 24/7 Service Line: 780-865-2634
Emergency Services/Protective Services Buildings
- EMERGENCY: ALWAYS CALL 911
- Emergency Services (Fire, PO)
  - Key Phone Number Info (fire): (780) 865-6089
  - Key Phone Number Complaint (PO): 780 865-6009
- Protective Services (RCMP)
  - Key Phone Number Info: 780-865-2455

These closures make all buildings only accessible by the public on an appointment basis. In the interest of continuity of service to our community, we are including key information for important facilities in Hinton, in one CivicSend. View it here.

Stay Connected
With buildings closed and no social gatherings, some residents normal information networks may be less accessible than usual. It's more important than ever to stay up to date and informed on what's going on in the community. Visit NotifyMe and subscribe to receive updates from the Town, like our scheduled COVID update, automatically, at Hinton.ca/NotifyMe

Introducing the Pretzel

THE PRETZEL – a new and awesome skating track in Hinton!

In cooperation with Maintenance, Public Works, and Arena staff, our Parks crew members are excited and proud to announce a new initiative for all skaters to enjoy.

Nestled among the trees in the Hinton Campground, located next to the playground at the Hinton Centre on Switzer Drive, residents can now find a 600 meter ice track!!

Learn more here.

ComServ 17 Available Tomorrow

To aid is residents understanding of all of community services current status, plans, and programming, ComServ, a newsletter from Community Services and Strategic Services at the the Town of Hinton, has been issued consistently since June.

The next edition will be issued tomorrow morning. Included will be updates based on the Provinces extension of closures, details on "The Pretzel", and information on Community Services Programming.

During the pandemic, the newsletter will be issued through both it's own channel and this (News and Announcements) channel. The newsletter may also be subscribed to directly via NotifyMe, available here, or downloaded online at Hinton.ca/ComServ.

Learn More