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MARCH 13, 2020 | Volume 33 No. 22
FRIDAY
KTW ARTS CENTRE FACT CHECKER Today, we examine the finances of the proposed centre — and debunk some myths floating around on social media A12-A13
BOOGIE THE BRIDGE/PAGE A35
Join the training and/or follow along as we present weekly diaries from creator Jo Berry and three participants
LAW NEEDS BITE City man calls for action after canine attacked his dog A7
COWBOY UP!
The annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival begins on March 19 A29
WEEKEND WEATHER: Cold! High 8 C Low -13 C
COVID-19 A PANDEMIC AS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION MAKES THE DECLARATION, CITY OF KAMLOOPS HAS PLANS IN PLACE
JESSICA WALLACE MARTY HASTINGS
STAFF REPORTERS
jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com sports@kamloopsthisweek.com
The World Health Organization has elevated the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak to pandemic status and the City of Kamloops said it is keeping tabs on the situation and taking cues from the provincial medical health officer. As of Wednesday’s provincial update, there are 46 confirmed cased in B.C., one of which involves a person in the Interior Health region. Health officials will not specify which community is involved, citing privacy reasons, but the woman in her 30s arrived at Vancouver International Airport from Shanghai, China, in early February and drove to her home. She is recovering at home in isolation, with health officials saying there is no risk of exposure to others. While there is no need to panic, CAO David Trawin said the city is
meeting with Interior Health and has a pandemic plan in case of an emergency. The city’s main priority during an emergency would be to maintain essential services. “We can’t shut down,� Trawin said. “People still need water, people still need to be able to flush their toilets.� One measure taken in communities hardest hit with the virus has been to ban large gatherings. In the U.S., Santa Clara County announced a ban of gatherings with 1,000 or more people, calling into question San Jose Sharks hockey games and other events. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee has taken it a step further, banning gatherings and events of more than 250 people in certain counties in the state, including those home to Seattle’s professional sports teams. At least 24 people in Washington state have died from the coronavirus, most of them in the Seattle metro area. Kamloops is the Tournament Capital and the WHL Blazers are
also on the sidelines, with the league joining many others — including the NBA, NHL, MLS and MLB — in suspending its season. The Blazers were scheduled to host Kelowna on Friday night, but whether the season even resumes remains unknown. (Turn to page A31 for the Blazers’ reaction to the WHL’s decison.) Trawin said the city relies on Interior Health to determine attendance restrictions at events. “Then those organizations have to follow,� he said. There are no such attendance bans in Kamloops and medicalhealth officials say the risk of contracting COVID-19 here remains low. Nevertheless, many events locally have been cancelled or postponed, including the upcoming Kamloops Exploration Group and Gathering our Voices, a children’s conference for about 700 people, both of which were to be held at the Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre.
See CITY RELIES, A5
A passenger on The Opera, a tourist boat on the Nile River, has swabs taken by a health official in Luxor, Egypt, to determine if the COVID-19 virus is present. Kamloops resident Deb Ryan took the photo and was on the boat. Ryan and others tested negative, but passengers and crew were held on the boat for a few hours. Ryan is scheduled to return home this weekend, but she spoke to KTW’s Michael Potestio from her spot on the Nile. TURN TO PAGE A3 FOR THE STORY.
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