Victoria, BC- Although the risk to British Columbia communities remains low, the Capital Regional District (CRD) would like to assure visitors, patrons and clients that the CRD is actively monitoring the status of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and taking appropriate precautions.

As a local government, we take direction from the Provincial Health Officer through Emergency Management B.C. Our focus is on maintaining essential service levels and following the advice of public health officials at every step. An Emergency Operations Centre is in place and planning is underway to ensure we are prepared should the situation or recommendations change.

What you can do: At this time, public health officials recommend the same precautions you would use to prevent the common cold or flu:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water,
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing,
• Avoid others who are unwell, and
• Stay home when you are sick

We ask all visitors to our facilities and participants in our programs to please stay home if they are sick and to refer to the following resources on a regular and ongoing basis.

• BC Centre for Disease Control Updates: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19
• Health Questions & Answers: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/coronavirus-covid-19 or dial 8-1-1
• Travel Health Notices: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/travel-health-notices
• Government of Canada www.canada.ca/coronavirus and Information Line: 1-833-784-4397

What the CRD is doing: On March 11, CRD Board Chair Colin Plant spoke about the COVID-19 situation and the CRD’s role at a public meeting. Read the Chair’s Remarks (PDF).

As an organization, the CRD is:

• Increasing cleaning protocols at our facilities with a focus on public areas and touchpoints
• Placing signage at facilities reminding members of the public and staff to follow public health recommendations, including staying away if they are feeling sick
• The Emergency Operations Centre is active as of March 11, 2020

Attachments:

• Chair’s Remarks (PDF) 
• CRD Signage Template (PDF)

The CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492