WESTLOCK – With provincial COVID-19 measures slated to be rescinded July 1, businesses, municipal facilities and even the RCMP are returning to pre-pandemic service levels.
Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Al Baird said the detachment doors, which were shuttered to walk-in traffic during the height of the pandemic, are now open, albeit they’ve limiting capacity to two people in the lobby at a time.
“We’ve become a little more accessible in the sense that people don’t have to pick up the phone (on the outside of the detachment) to come in. But at the same time if people can phone in advance, that is appreciated so we don’t experience a backlog so people don’t have to wait outside,” said Baird June 24.
And while the doors being open are a sign that things are slowly returning to normal, Baird said officers will still be required to wear masks during interactions with the public, even though the provincial face-covering order will all but be rescinded July 1 — masks will still be required for things like public transport and taxis. Baird said they’ll continue to operate status quo until they receive further direction from ‘K’ Division in Edmonton.
As for vaccinations at the detachment, Baird wouldn’t give a specific number but said “most” of the members have received both shots of vaccine.
“For the time being it’s status quo, so we’re waiting for instructions and direction from ‘K’ Division,” he continued.
“As each day goes by more people get vaccinated, but that said I think we’ll be following our current protocols (in regard to PPE) for awhile. We have to report to ‘K’ Division when we get our doses, so they’re tracking how many members have been fully vaccinated. I don’t have an official number to give, but we’re getting close.”
