City-run programs and events suspended as COVID-19 prompts closures and cancellations

All programs and events run by the City of Hamilton will be temporarily suspended as part of its expanding COVID-19 emergency response plan.

The news comes amid a flurry of announcements, cancellations and other actions by Hamilton and other cities across the region meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The city's schools, universities and colleges are closed, the historic Around the Bay road race is on hold, many March break camps are cancelled as are other activities across the city. 

On Friday, the city announced a level two escalation of its emergency operation centre — the largest scale activation the centre has operated at since at least 2000.

Paul Johnson, the director of the city's emergency operations centre, says a level two plan means city-run events will remain closed until April 6, but all municipal facilities will stay open.

"It is a way of us starting down this path of trying to limit the contact that people have with each other," Johnson said at a city hall press conference Friday afternoon. 

Brant County and the city of Burlington have also cancelled all recreation programs, including March Break Camps, for the next three weeks, effective March 14.  

Hamilton's medical officer of health, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, also said COVID-19 assessment centres are "in the works." An assessment centre is a space used to screen or test people for the virus outside of or separate from a hospital. 

Until then, city officials said they just want to limit spread, especially for older adults who may be more susceptible to the virus.

Other local programs that are not operating include drop-in centres for parents and children, like EarlyOn centres and non-essential health delivery programs like prenatal and parenting groups, Johnson said.  

Programs at Hamilton Public Library will also be suspended, though the locations remain open for people to use. 

"We all know that these are difficult circumstances for a lot of people in the community given that [it's] March break and what are they going to do with their kids," Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said. "Unfortunately, these are necessary steps to prevent any additional contact that might continue to spread this unfortunate virus." 

He added that it's "an opportunity for people to spend more time together or find creative ways of amusing one selves other than the (city) programs that they're accustomed to." 

At this time, Johnson said they are in the process of creating a thorough list of all cancelled programs on their website, but that people are to "assume that if programs are city-run that they will not be operating as of tomorrow morning." 

Hamilton's Around the Bay road race on March 29 will be either cancelled or postponed. 

Organizers of the oldest long distance road race in North America met with public health officials yesterday morning and were set to proceed, "but by the end of the day, the situation had changed very quickly," according to a statement from race director Anna Lewis.

"Because of this quick change in direction, it has not been determined if this is a postponement or a cancellation," it reads, promising a later update for everyone who's registered. "We ask for your patience as we sort things through."

Any costs associated with programs run by community groups or residents will be refunded, but the city is still working through the details. 

Johnson also said that although city staff may be relocated during this time, no employees will be laid off.  

In addition to the escalation, the city has initiated several measures, including: 

• Cancelling all in-person, non-essential training attended or hosted by city staff between March 12 and April 30. 

• Cancelling all in-person staff attendance at conferences or professional development activities between March 12 and April 30. 

• Cancelling all city-hosted conferences or professional development activities between March 12 and April 30. 

The emergency operations centre is a coordinated city response that provides support and resources to emergency situations. 

City officials said they'll continue to monitor any developments and update the public as necessary. 

"We all worry about the impact of a virus but worry doesn't really get us anywhere, what we need to do is act and actions are being taken today to ensure that we protect the public and our city staff in the best way possible," Eisenberger said. "These are at uncertain times and we need to support one another."

As of Friday at 9 a.m., the City of Hamilton reported one confirmed case, 76 negative and 22 under investigation, with a total of 99 patients approved for COVID-19 testing. 

The radiation oncologist from Juravinski Cancer Centre who tested positive earlier this week is considered in Halton Region's count. 

For information related to COVID-19, visit hamilton.ca/coronavirus or contact the city's COVID-19 hotline at 905-546-2424 ext. 7970 or email phscovid19@hamilton.ca.