One month into the pandemic

ATHABASCA – It has only been a month since the novel coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, became a household name and began to spread across the North American continent, infiltrating the lives of people everywhere – it’s a different world that everybody has to adjust to, including local leaders.

As of April 5, the provincial health authorities have reported no positive tests for the virus in the Athabasca region, but neighbouring areas in Westlock and Barrhead have reported one and two respectively, according to the Alberta government’s geo-spatial statistics available on its website.

Town of Athabasca mayor Colleen Powell recalls the first time coronavirus crossed her radar.

“Like everybody else, I was watching the news and saw what was happening in Wuhan (China) and then I saw it move and I thought ‘Is this going to hit us, or are we going to get lucky?’” she said.

She remembers the first Thursday of March she started reaching out to AUMA (Alberta Urban Municipalities Association), Municipal Affairs and Alberta Health Services.

“I got nothing and I’m going crazy because I don’t know what’s going on. On Friday, things started happening, literally, the next day,” said Powell.

Soon after that, the term self-isolation also became a part of everyone’s vocabulary and it’s a term the mayor is taking very seriously, along with the other methods of prevention recommended by doctors everywhere including good hygiene practices, social separation and physical distancing.

In just two weeks, the schools and universities were effectively closed, all sporting events were postponed, businesses and workers were classified as either essential and non-essential and the enforcement of public health orders became a reality as citizens everywhere were asked to stay home. Period.

Most municipal services like recreation and community programming were put on hold earlier, but a few essential staff still remain. At Athabasca County, a minimal number of employees are still working in public works and in the administration office, but the doors are closed to the public, while others work from home.

“In short, the county is doing the very best we can considering the issues that we have and the present situation,” said reeve Larry Armfelt. “We still have to provide essential services out there, like the graders and things like that. We just can’t stop the essential services. We appreciate our employees who are considered essential for doing what they’re doing.”

He also gave a nod to county’s emergency services director Ron Jackson for the creation of a comprehensive Athabasca Regional Emergency Response Plan, aspects of which could be put in place at any time.

“The biggest thing that I want to get across to our ratepayers is to stay safe, stay at home as much as you can. This is a farming community so we have cattle also and the cows still have to be fed, and it’s terrible weather for calving time, but everyone should just be patient and cooperative with their neighbours and if you can help out your neighbours or a senior citizen, you should,” he said.

Mayor Powell did acknowledge the layoff of part-time staff at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, but deferred to Multiplex society chair Rob Balay for specifics. There have been no other layoffs, she said.

Town council’s big concern in the very short term is passing the 2020 budget at its April 7 meeting, which is being held via Zoom. Powell also mentioned the agenda for that meeting includes a discussion on whether to suspend the current penalties for late taxes and utilities for the time being. She encouraged those who are unable to pay to make arrangements with the town office.

While she’s thankful the area is still coronavirus free, Powell has a number of concerns, of which, the survival of local businesses is at the forefront.

“There’s a double-whammy going on here. We have the oil price disaster and we have the pandemic and I’m hoping the provincial and federal programs will help businesses hang in there until we can resume normal life,” she said giving particular kudos to the grocery store workers and those who deliver goods and everyone else still working to make sure the community doesn’t crumble.

Also, there are still certain segments of the community who are not taking precautions to heart, some of them unintentionally and others with full disregard, the mayor said.

“Get home. Shut the door. Get your friend to get groceries. You can get delivery from Tipton’s and Buy Low. There are ways to do this by not leaving your home. This is not forever. Go for a walk in your back yard,” said Powell, urging the friends and families of those who are not complying with health orders to speak frankly with them.

“If I find out you are not abiding by these rules, I will report you, and so should anybody else who knows this … If somebody is putting somebody else’s life in danger they should be stopped.”

That said, Powell is wary of declaring a local state of emergency due to the potential for government over-reach and its effects on civil liberties. Essentially, it’s municipal martial law, she said, a bridge too far.

“It suspends civil liberties. If you declare a local state of emergency, it is not just to let everybody know this is serious. First of all, you take complete control of the pandemic in your community,” she said. “Part B is what powers does it give the town? We can suspend travel. We can set a curfew. We can go into somebody’s house, without a warrant, if we suspect that they are breaking isolation.”

As of April 6, 152 of 1,250 total cases in Alberta are suspected of being community acquired. More than 65,000 tests have been administered. There have been 23 deaths in the province due to coronavirus complications, and 279 cases are confirmed to be recovered.

“Try, in this crazy moment in history in Canada to work together, and if there are concerns, please call the county office or your local councillor. It’s a tough time for everybody, but we’ll get through it, we’re Canadians,” said reeve Armfelt.

Chris Zwick,TownandCountryToday.com

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