COVID-19

The Town’s Emergency Operations Group (EOG) met today, January 28th, 2022 at 10:00 AM local time on a virtual online platform. The Province has advised changes in Covid-19 levels / restrictions for New Brunswick beginning Friday at 11:59 pm January 28th, 2022 local time.

ACTIVATION STATUS:
The Town’s EOC will remain at Level 1 Status – Enhanced Monitoring to focus on providing emergency services and winter maintenance service to Town residents.
The Town’s EOC Group has introduced its schedule of regular meetings utilizing a virtual platform to minimize close contact during these meetings.
This Virtual EOG meeting highlighted the following:

• Our Health Zone is in need of everyone’s active participation in all Public Health measures to reduce contacts and maintain physical distancing where possible and to follow public health guidance.
• implementation of the Town’s operational methods where necessary have been evaluated and recommendations have been submitted to Town Sussex Council. Beginning of Saturday January 29th further changes to municipal operations will begin.
• The province’s amended Winter Action Plan / Level restrictions that have been provided by the Province news release on Thursday January 27th, 2022.
• The province has published an amended sports and recommendation guidance document on January 27th, 2022. This will assist the Town in returning the 8th Hussar’s Sport Centre to an active operational mode.
• Escalating case counts in our Health Zone, in our community, in our corporation requires operational changes.
• The number of service providers and close contact professionals currently experiencing some level of isolation continues. Given this reality municipal operations have experienced similar impacts.
  The Town will announce the following changes to Municipal Operations:
• The Town has implemented a split shift of municipal works operations to minimize contact between staff members and their assigned teams. This practice will continue for the foreseeable future
• Town Administration offices, and visitation to Town Hall will reopen to the public on January 31st, 2022 beginning at 8:30 am. The Town will advise residents of the changes in upcoming communication on how best to request service, to visit Town Hall, to set up an appointment, and to provide information on options for payments to the Town.
• Operational changes necessary to maintain emergency readiness of the Town’s Volunteer Fire Department and active operational changes have been implemented by the Chief and Officers of the Sussex Fire Department will continue
• The Town will continue to maintain limited-service contacts within the community to lessen impact between staff and our service patrons when requested onsite or inhouse visits for the protection of the residents and staff for the foreseeable future.
• The Town’s EOG group has recommended to Sussex Council changes to the operations of the 8th Hussars Sport’s Centre beginning at the activation of the Level 2 provincial restrictions and the new Sports and Recreation Guidance published on January 27th, 2022.
• The Town continues symptomatic testing of Town staff, as necessary.
• The Town will move to in person meetings in the February 2022 meeting cycle and will continue to reassess future meeting cycles for committee and Council meetings.
• As of today’s date, Friday January 28th, 2022; the Town continues encourage individuals and families to take time to exercise and be outdoors, but please do so responsibly. Our trails and parks remain open for use as we believe that they are a great resource for remaining physically and mentally well. To assist in providing an enhanced trails experience the Town has secured grooming services for 2022 and we thank our service provider in providing this community opportunity to our trail’s users.
• The Town advises that if residents do choose to use our trails and facilities that they be mindful of the Level 2 Winter Plan requirement of wearing a mask while using the Town’s Trails when distancing is not possible and maintaining appropriate distances between yourselves and others and also keeping control of your pets. Please observe the Town’s leash requirements and do not let pets run free for the safety of your fellow trail users.
• With the approval of Town Council, the Town will return to normal operations in accordance with the Sports and Recreation Guidance dated January 27th, 2022 at the 8th Hussars Sports Centre,
• The Town encourages responsible physical activity and advises the public to wear a mask while on our trails when physical distancing cannot be maintained, stay spaced, stay safe and always stay healthy and help each other as we all work through this provincial emergency.
  Next EOC meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM local time, Wednesday February 2nd, 2022. It is our intent, unless otherwise warranted, to provide the next Public Update report on Wednesday February 2nd, 2022 at 3:30 PM. Additional considerations will likely result given the fluidity of the current situation.

The Town’s Emergency Operations Group (EOG) met yesterday, January 13th, 2022 at 2:45 PM local time on a virtual online platform. The Province has advised of changes in Covid-19 levels / restrictions for New Brunswick beginning Friday January 14th, 2022 at 11:59 pm local time.

ACTIVATION STATUS:
The Town’s EOC will remain at Level 1 Status – Enhanced Monitoring to focus on providing emergency services and winter maintenance service to Town residents.

The Town’s EOC Group has introduced its schedule of regular meetings utilizing a virtual platform to minimize close contact during these meetings.

This Virtual EOG meeting highlighted the following:

• Our Health Zone is in need of everyone’s active participation in all Public Health measures to reduce contacts and maintain physical distancing.
• Evidence of extensive and rapid acceleration of cases that prompted implementation of the Town’s operational methods were necessary. Beginning of Saturday January 15th further changes to operations will begin.
• The province’s Winter Action Plan / Level restrictions that have been provided by the Province news release on Thursday January 13th, 2022.
• Escalating case counts in our Health Zone, in our community, in our corporation requires operational changes.
• The number of service providers and close contact professionals currently experiencing some level of isolation continues. Given this reality municipal operations have experienced similar impacts.

The Town will announce the following changes to Municipal Operations:

• The Town has implemented a split shift of municipal works operations to minimize contact between staff members and their assigned teams.
• Town Administration offices, and visitation to Town Hall will require an appointment to review and provide service during the month of January. The Town will advise residents of the changes in upcoming communication on how to request service, to set up an appointment, and to provide information on options for payments to the Town.
• Operational changes necessary to maintain emergency readiness of the Town’s Volunteer Fire Department and active operational changes have been implemented by the Chief and Officers of the Sussex Fire Department.
• The Town will continue to maintain limited-service contacts within the community to lessen impact between staff and our service patrons when requested onsite or inhouse visits for the protection of the residents and staff.
• Town Administration has completed the purchase and installing VPN services on two (2) laptops to provide the necessary tools to be operational from any location in the greater Sussex area. Eight (8) staff are now having the capability of working remotely. A rotation of remote work will begin Monday January 17th, 2022.
• The Town’s EOG group has recommended to Sussex Council changes to the operations of the 8th Hussars Sport’s Centre beginning at the activation of the Level provincial restrictions.
• The Town continues symptomatic testing of Town staff, as necessary.
• The Town will move to a virtual meeting platform for the January 2022 and will reassess the February meeting cycle for committee and Council meetings scheduled later in February 2022.
• As of today’s date, Friday January 14th, 2022; the Town continues encourage individuals and families to take time to exercise and be outdoors, but please do so responsibly. Our trails, open parks remain open for use as we believe that they are a great resource for remaining physically and mentally well. To assist in providing an enhanced trails experience the Town has secured grooming services for 2022 and we thank our service provider in providing this community opportunity to our trails users.
• The Town advises that if residents do choose to use our trails and facilities that they be mindful of the Level 3 Winter Plan requirement of wearing a mask while using the Town’s Trails when distancing is not possible and maintaining appropriate distances between yourselves and others and also keeping control of your pets. Please observe the Town’s leash requirements and do not let pets run free for the safety of your fellow trail users.
• With the approval of Town Council, the Town will be promoting a single-family bubble skating experience of a vaccination approved entry of a single family bubble to the ice surface for a 45 minute rental. The Town’s community services department will begin online booking of rental opportunities on a fee for rental basis in the amount of $50 per 45-minute ice time. We hope this will provide families an opportunity for physical activity in a controlled safe environment regulated in accordance with provincial restrictions. You can make the request for ice time at the following link: https://sussex.ca/ice-rental-request-submission-form/
• The Town encourages responsible physical activity and advise the public to wear a mask while on our trails when physical distancing cannot be maintained, stay spaced, stay safe and always stay healthy and help each other as we all work through this provincial emergency.

Next EOC meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM local time, Wednesday January 19th, 2022. It is our intent, unless otherwise warranted, to provide the next Public Update report on Wednesday January 19th, 2022 at 3:30 PM. Additional considerations will likely result given the fluidity of the current situation.

The Town’s Emergency Operations Group (EOG) met today at 3:00 PM local time on a virtual online. The Province has advised changes in Covid-19 levels / restrictions as well as testing scheduled for New Brunswick beginning at 11:59 pm January 04^th, 2022 local time.

ACTIVATION STATUS:

The Town’s EOC has recommended to Sussex Town Council that the Town move to Level 1 Status – Enhanced Monitoring to focus on providing emergency services and winter maintenance service to Town residents.

The Town’s EOC Group has reintroduced its schedule of regular meetings utilizing a virtual platform to minimize close contact during these meetings.

This Virtual EOG meeting highlighted the following:

• Our Health Zone is in a delicate state / situation that could be described as in a combustive state, and the need of everyone’s active participation in all Public Health measures are needed to reduce contacts and maintain physical distancing.
• Evidence of extensive and rapid acceleration of cases that prompted consideration to review the Town’s operational methods were necessary at this time.
• The province’s Winter Action Plan / Level restrictions that have been provided by the Province news release on Friday December 31, 2021.
• Escalating case counts in a very short time in our Health Zone, in our community requires operational changes.
• The number of service providers and close contact professionals currently experiencing some level of isolation. Given this reality municipal operations could experience similar impacts.

The Town will announce the following changes to upcoming events:

• The Town Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will move to Level 1 Status – Enhanced Monitoring effective January 04^th, 2022 beginning at 8:00 am.
• The Town will implement a split shift of municipal works operations to minimize contact between staff members and their assigned teams. Town Administration will hold a meeting at 7:30 am January 04^th, 2022 to discuss two shifts daily from 6:00am – 2:30pm and 1:30pm to 10:00 pm, alternating weekly with CUPE Local 2163 agreement related to the shift changes as outlined in the Town’s collective bargaining agreement with our outside workers. It is highly likely this new method can begin Wednesday January 05^th, 2022 beginning at 6:00am.
• Operational changes necessary to maintain emergency readiness of the Town’s Volunteer Fire Department is being actively assessed by the Chief and Officers of the Sussex Fire Department.
• Maintaining limited-service contacts within the community to lessen impact between staff and our service patrons when requested onsite or inhouse visits for the protection of the residents and staff.
• Town Administration will complete the purchase and installing VPN services on two (2) laptops to provide the necessary tools to be operational from any location in the greater Sussex area.   
• The Town’s EOG group has assessed changes to the operations of the 8^th Hussars Sport’s Centre. It is believed no changes will be implemented but this status will be reviewed continually.
• The Town will begin and maintain symptomatic testing of Town staff as necessary.
• The Town has received its first shipment of N95 masks and additional PPE for municipal operations.
• The Town will move to a virtual meeting platform for the January 2022 and will reassess the February meeting cycle for committee and Council meetings scheduled later in February 2022.

Next EOC meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM local time, Wednesday January 05^th, 2022. It is our intent, unless otherwise warranted, to provide the next Public Update report on Wednesday January 05^th, 2022 at 3:30 PM. Additional considerations will likely result given the fluidity of the current situation.