MNL President encouraging municipalities’ efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19
March 17, 2020
Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador President Sheila Fitzgerald is commending municipalities across the province for their efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus causing COVID-19.
“This virus is rapidly spreading, and health officials are telling us that slowing this spread means distancing ourselves from one another in public spaces,” said Fitzgerald. “Many of our members throughout the province have already taken precautionary measures in closing their public facilities and suspending their public programming. We support these municipalities and are recommending others do the same.”
MNL has established a COVID-19 webpage on our site and today released a municipal protocol document that provides emergency and communication guidelines to municipalities as they make decisions around their council tables, and with their staff, on how best to proceed. Most important in this protocol is being aware of the latest reliable information and sharing that information quickly and effectively with citizens. Working with local community health and emergency services stakeholders is necessary.
“We are in regular communication with the Department of Municipal Affairs’ Fire and Emergency Services Division,” said Fitzgerald. “They support the work that we are doing with our members.”
MNL is coordinating a series of regional calls this week and next to hear from members and to share important information with them. We ask that council and administrative staff check their inboxes for invitations to participate.
Members were informed that MNL staff would be working from home indefinitely. The MNL team is equipped to work remotely and no disruption in services will occur. Any changes to upcoming MNL events will be communicated accordingly.
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Visit our COVID-19 webpage: https://municipalnl.ca/covid-19/
Contact:
Deatra Walsh – Director of Advocacy and Communications
Cell: 709-986-2771 l email: dwalsh@municipalnl.ca
Gail Woodfine – Communications and Public Relations Coordinator
Cell: 709-725-1440 l email: gwoodfine@municipalnl.ca