COVID-19: What's been done in Richmond Hill so far

City hall closed, meetings cancelled, events postponed, library closed, food bank still open

Yorkregion.com
March 18, 2020
Sheila Wang

As COVID-19 continues to rapidly spread across the world, Richmond Hill is going all out to brace for a potential mass outbreak in the diverse community.

The city decided March 13 to close its municipal office and all community recreation and culture facilities to the public, and cancel all recreation and culture programs until April 5.

The decision came out of a special council meeting the same day, when council adopted a staff recommendation in response to the evolving situation of COVID-19 in the community.

There are currently 19 confirmed cases in the region and six of them were from Richmond Hill, as of March 17, according to York Region Public Health.

Richmond Hill has also cancelled all performances and facility bookings at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Art until April 5. Meanwhile all March Break camps have been cancelled as well.

“We’re prepared to reimburse at 100 per cent all fees that have been paid for these programs and services,” interim City Manager Mary-Anne Dempster told council at her presentation at the special meeting.

She noted the city facilities that are closed to the public will remain accessible to staff.

While in-person services at the municipal offices will not be available until April 6, residents can reach staff by email at access@richmondhill.ca or by phone at 905-771-8800

Other York municipalities have also made similar decisions in an effort to help break the chain of transmission of COVID-19.

Richmond Hill’s press release states that the decision was made following the Ontario government’s direction to close public-funded schools until April 5 and immediately suspend all public gatherings with over 250 people.

The city has also formed a task force for COVID-19 emergencies and is currently developing a strategy to reinvigorate business, as a result of the March 11 council meeting.

Library, community events, food bank

Shortly after the city’s announcement, the Richmond Hill Public Library Board decided to close all branches until April 5.

Regular services will resume on April 6, according to a press release dated March 14.

Items can be returned to RHPL locations through all external drop boxes, excluding Richmond Green. There will be adjustments to fines, holds and our refund policies, it states.

Prior to these official announcements, many community groups, agencies and individuals have already taken initiatives to cancel or postpone events in the city.

Among them, the Karma HR Workshop which is a unique job fair for people with disabilities scheduled for March 22 at the Richmond Hill Theatre has been postponed to August or September.

The annual Norooz celebration hosted by Community & Home Assistance To Seniors (CHATS), which was planned to take place on March 13 at Shiraz Restaurant, has been postponed until further notice.

The annual Maple Syrup Festival, scheduled for March 28, has been pushed back to a later date.

The Krasman Centre, a peer-based social service organization, has closed its drop-in for a week starting March 16.

Meanwhile, the Richmond Hill Food Bank also changed the operation policies. Starting March 16, only one client at a time will be allowed inside the food bank’s front door to show ID and be registered before picking up basic prepackaged grocery provisions through the back doors.

Assessment centres

There are currently three assessment centres across York Region for rapid screening of COVID-19.

MacKenzie Health, located on Major MacKenzie Drive West, opened its testing centre on March 16. Assessments are done by appointment only through referrals from York Region Public Health.

Markham Stouffville Hospital, located at Highway 7 in Markham, is scheduled to open a walk-in assessment centre for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Southlake Regional in Newmarket is expected to open an assessment centre as well, but no details have yet been provided.

Hotlines

York Region Public Health is closely monitoring the emerging COVID-19 situation, in collaboration with provincial and national health agencies, and receives regular updates as the situation evolves.

If you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, call York Region Public Health at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73588 and immediately self-isolate. Alternatively, you may contact your health care provider or local Emergency Department to arrange for testing as appropriate.

If you have questions or concerns regarding COVID-19, call Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 (1-866-512-6228 for the deaf or hard of hearing).

For medical advice, you may also contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential service you can call to get health advice or information. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.