Spring break camps are going ahead for children at recreation facilities in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody but hand washing and other hygiene efforts will likely be part of the routine.
All three cities will be taking measures, similar to those in place during flu season, to make sure kids don’t get sick while participating in programs between March 16 and 27.
At Place des Arts in Coquitlam, where students take arts and music classes, officials will be following the guidance of the Fraser Health Authority and the BC Centre for Disease Control. The Coquitlam facility has also increased the cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces.
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Place des Arts told The Tri-City News it will be encouraging students/parents to practise hygiene etiquette as follows:
• Wash their hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water.
• Not touch their faces/eyes/mouths with unwashed hands.
• Cover their mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing with a disposable tissue or the crease of the elbow.
• Stay at home when they are sick.
• And avoid sharing food, utensils, dishes and water bottles.
In Port Moody, precautions will be taken but all camps are open while, in Port Coquitlam, camps are going ahead with increased sanitization of public paces. In Coquitlam, spring break camps are going ahead, increased cleaning is underway and the city has set up a page on its website for information, and is putting up notices at all facility washrooms reminding people of the ongoing importance of washing their hands with soap and water.
“We are following the direction of the relevant health authorities as they are the lead when it comes to health situations such as this one,” a Coquitlam city spokesperson said.
All are taking their lead from provincial health officials and the BC Centre for Disease Control and will update procedures as necessary, the Tri-City News was told.
The public is advised to contact their health-care provider, local public health office or call 811 if they have further concerns or symptoms.
The provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, is asking people to continue to take precautions and monitor their health to prevent the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. She has said repeatedly at press conferences that people have to work together to stop the spread of the disease which can be devastating to elderly people, and those with underlying conditions, while children appear to be relatively unscathed.
