March 25, 2020
The Town of Fogo Island is supporting the direction from both Federal and Provincial Government, health authorities and agencies, and taking measures necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Town has closed all public access to Municipal owned facilities.
Residents are encouraged to make payments through online banking, telephone banking or by mail. If you need assistance, please call the Town Office at 709-266-1320 or email info@townoffogoisland.ca.
The Town has measures in place to maintain core services including water and sewer operations, fire services, and snow clearing and ice control.
The public is reminded to follow the guidelines as set out by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador by visiting the following website: https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Everyone has a role to play in reducing the spread of disease, including coronaviruses. The Town's primary focus is the protection of staff and residents by interrupting chains of transmission of COVID-19 in the community, by delaying and reducing an outbreak where possible. Actions that can be taken to stay healthy include:
•Practice social distancing - Everyone should do their best to avoid close contact with people outside of their immediate families. Close contact includes being within two (2) meters of another person.
•Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the absence of soap and water with at least 60 percent alcohol.
•Avoid touching your face.
•Avoid contact with people who are sick
•Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette. Cover your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing and sneezing and immediately dispose of used tissues in the trash.
•Stay at home if you are sick
•Frequently clean and disinfect high-touch areas such as toilets, bedside tables and door handles with diluted bleach or a regular household cleaner.
•Limit visitors to your home
•Use delivery service when possible
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
•No play dates or sleepovers for children
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 INCLUDE:
oFever
oCoughing
oDifficulty breathing
The severity can range from mild to severe
If you have any health-related questions related to COVID-19, please call 811.
SELF-ISOLATION AND SELF-MONITORING
Self-isolate at home if:
•You have been diagnosed with COVID-19;
•You are a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19;
•You have been assessed by Public Health for COVID-19 and/or are waiting to hear the results of a laboratory test for COVID-19;
•You have travelled anywhere outside of Newfoundland and Labrador, for 14 days upon return to the province; or
•You have been advised to self-isolate for any other reason by Public Health.
Always follow the advice of Public Health officials.
Self-isolation with symptoms means:
•Staying at home and not going to work or school;
•Avoiding close contact with people with chronic conditions, compromised immune systems and older adults;
•Avoiding contact with others in your home;
•Staying in a separate room away from other people;
•Using a separate bathroom, if possible;
•Avoiding sharing dishes, glasses, or utensils;
•You are to continue self-isolation until cleared by Public Health officials.
Self-isolation without symptoms means:
•Staying at home and not going to work or school;
•Avoiding close contact with people with chronic conditions, compromised immune systems and older adults;
•Avoiding contact with others in your home;
•Staying in a separate room away from other people;
•Using a separate bathroom, if possible;
•Keeping a distance of at least two arm's length from other people;
•Avoiding sharing dishes, glasses, or utensils;
•Without symptoms, you can go outside for a walk, hike, or ride your bike;
•If you remain symptom-free after 14 days, self-isolation ends.
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DECLARED COVID-19 A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
Effective March 18, 2020, the Minister of Health and Community Services declared COVID-19 a public health emergency under the Public Health Protection and Promotion Act. The following facilities were ordered to close:
•Gyms and fitness facilities, including yoga studios, tennis and squash facilities
•Dance studios
•Businesses that hold a license under the Liquor Control Act whose primary purpose is the consumption of beer, wine, or spirits
•Cinemas
•Arenas
•Performance spaces
•Bingo halls
•Personal services establishments including spas, esthetic services, hair salons, body piercing, tattooing and tanning salons
•Retail stores, unless those stores provide services essential to life, health or personal safety of individuals and animals. See the Special Measures Order above for details.
Private health clinics, except physician and nurse practitioner clinics. If clinicians can provide virtual care, they are encouraged to do so.
Restaurants are permitted to offer take-out, delivery and drive-thru services. In-person dining is prohibited.
Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited. This includes funerals, visitation and weddings.
Visitation to long-term care and personal care homes is prohibited, unless for exceptional circumstances, including end of life.
Anyone arriving to Newfoundland and Labrador from outside of Canada on or after March 14, 2020 at 7:00pm NDT is required to self-isolate for 14 days after their arrival in Canada.
Anyone arriving to the province from outside of Newfoundland and Labrador on or after March 20, 2020 is required to self-isolate for 14 days after their arrival.
There are exemptions to these orders. Please refer to the Exemptions Order issued on March 21, 2020 for more details.
A person found in breach of these orders could face a fine or jail time. A corporation found in breach of these orders could face a fine of $5,000 to $50,000.
FERRY SERVICES
The Department of Transportation and Works, Marine Services Division has announced that the travelling public can stay in their vehicles during the crossing. In addition, they have reduced some of the late crossings to allow time for crew to clean the vessel as a safety precaution; the Town supported this decision.
Stay safe everyone and please do your part to help flatten the curve.
Mayor Collins, Councillors and Staff
