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MARCH 18, 2020 | Volume 33 No. 23
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Story, Page A11
NOTE TO READERS/ADVERTISERS Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health officials’ advice to avoid unnecessary contact, KTW is closing its office to the public until further notice. The staff at KTW will continue working to get you news of the day and messages from our advertisers. For those wishing to book an appointment to visit KTW, please call 250-376-7467 and we can make arrangements. We thank you for your understanding as we work to heed crucial advice from public health officials.
Ramifications of the pandemic are far-reaching
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CLOSURES, POSTPONEMENTS IN FACE OF PANDEMIC NO SD73/TRU CLASSES INDEFINITELY, CITY FACILITIES SHUTTERED, REFERENDUM MAY BE DELAYED As the COVID-19 pandemic leads to more restrictions related to people gathering together, residents like Shanti Claycamp are using services like the grocery pick-up service at the Real Canadian Superstore. ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW
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After the province introduced stricter measures on Monday to limit the size of gatherings in British Columbia, the City of Kamloops has shut down civic recreational facilities to further prevent the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has decided to close classrooms indefinitely as it works with school districts to create an alternate learning system with students at home. In addition, Thompson Rivers University has cancelled in-person classes and is working on creating online courses. The city has closed arenas, pools, the Tournament Capital Centre and McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre. Over the weekend, the city announced it was closing pools, saunas and steam rooms. Other municipalities have also closed recreational facilities.
Meanwhile, the city has activated its Emergency Operations Centre. With the new order from the provincial health officer banning public gatherings over 50 people, the city is identifying impacts to venues, programs and services.
Effective immediately, extra precautions include increased cleaning of surfaces and public areas, encouraging employees to stay home if they are feeling unwell and practising social distancing (a two-meter/6,5foot buffer between people).
“This is a health crisis,” Mayor Ken Christian said during a Monday press conference at city hall, stating the city continues to connect with health officials in charge of managing the issue. “We will continue to
liaise with them and take what further actions we believe are necessary to protect the citizens of Kamloops, with respect to COVID-19.” When asked, Christian said he is not aware of any confirmed cases in Kamloops. He said the city has a pandemic plan in place. “I am assured that the essential utilities that the citizens of Kamloops continue to rely on every day — particularly water, sewer, storm sewer — we will continue to provide that service for the citizens of Kamloops,” he said. Meanwhile, in-person classes in School District 73 and across the province have been suspended until further notice as the provin-
cial government continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, Premier John Horgan, Minister of Education Rob Fleming and Finance Minister Carol James provided an update on steps the provincial government is taking to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The move to suspend classes in B.C. comes days following other extended closures of schools in provinces such as Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Fleming announced all public and independent schools in B.C. will end in-class instruction and districts will begin formulating plans for some kind of remote instruction following spring break. For most school districts, this will mean planning ahead to March 30, but SD73 has only a one-week spring break, ending on March 20. See APRIL 4, A6
16TH ANNUAL RV SHOWDOWN & SALE MARCH 19-22, 2020 SEE PAGES 18-19