The City of Kamloops is closing all public facilities as of midnight tonight.

“[That includes] all of our arenas, all of our pools, the Tournament Capital Centre, McArthur Island Sports Centre,” said Mayor Ken Christian. “We are going to be advising the Thompson Nicola Regional District of the decision we’re making today. They will make decision with respect to the Library and the Art Gallery.”

Christian says there is a plan for the employees of those facilities, who have all been asked to report to work on Tuesday.

“There are other things that they can be doing at their work sites, but we will have to look at both access to sick leave provisions and EI provision for those that there are no alternatives for. So they are going to come into work tomorrow, we’re just not going to have people at those facilities,” said Christian.

When it comes to the Kamloops Centre for the Arts referendum that is scheduled for April 4th, the Mayor has some concerns about voter suppression as a result of COVID-19.

“We are dealing with the minister of Municipal Affairs to see if there could be a postponement order with respect to that particular initiative,” he noted. “The other concern that we have is just our ability to manage that kind of event in the face in this kind of a crisis.”

The city has been working hand-in-hand with its Emergency Operations Committee.

“Certainly police, fire and by-laws are going to be in pandemic response mode, but I can assure the citizens of Kamloops that they will have the protections that they are used to in terms of those kinds of critical and essential services within our community,” added Christian.

“We have talked about transit and our BC transit system. They are currently working at a level 2 in terms of their pandemic planning. They will be disinfecting all of the buses and public transit that is a part of the Kamloops transit system. I am assured that the essential utilities that the citizens of Kamloops rely on every day, particularly water, sewer, storm sewer, we will continue to provide that kind of service to the citizens of Kamloops.”

He also says the Kamloops Airport will stay open, although it’s seen a dramatic decline in inbound passengers.

Earlier today, the city opened its Emergency Operations Centre as a precaution as well.

Listen to the entire address from Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian below.

https://soundcloud.com/user-965676831/kamloops-mayor-newser