Discuss our response to COVID-19

[dcwalk]

This came up in our signal group, we should aim to discuss at our call on Saturday and understand Hypha's response.

TODOs:

• [x] discuss and formulate response (e.g., go ahead with planning? comms?)
• [x] write/sign-off on statement
• [x] add extra meeting to calendar
• [x] update website to reflect status
• [x] schedule/announce open call THURS, Mar 19, 2020, 4pm ET
• [x] announce on mailing list, twitter

The current Toronto message: (from Councillor M. Layton Mar-12-2020):

At this moment in time, the Chief Medical Officer of Health is working with her staff in Toronto Public Health and other health partners to plan for the potential of local spread.

To help facilitate communication on this important issue, the City has set up a website with best advice, up-to-date information, frequently asked questions, and a series of contacts for a variety of questions.

• https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/diseases-medications-vaccines/coronavirus/
• https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
• https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/assumptions.html#a1

And local health information (from TTC Riders):

Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ask questions. Translation is available in many languages.

Cross-linking where I've been putting all the worker related Hypha stuff: https://github.com/hyphacoop/organizing/issues/229 (not totally on point, but some good stuff!)

[dcwalk]

Thoughtful and nice email from 918 Bathurst (venue):

918 Bathurst Letter to the Community on Covid-19

Hello everyone in the 918 Bathurst Community:

We are writing to update the 918 Bathurst community about our response to the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19

We have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation via Toronto Public Health and Public Health Ontario. We have put measures in place to keep our environment safe. These measures include, augmenting sanitizing supplies, enhanced cleaning and sanitizing measures.

We take our directives from provincial and local health authorities and at this time the risk in Toronto still remains low. The situation in other parts of the world of course remains different. 918 Bathurst strongly encourages its tenants and clients who have travelled to countries and regions identified as having active travel and health notices for COVID-19 to postpone all events and/or attending events at 918 Bathurst until the situation comes under control.

Routine precautions are our best defense against colds, flu, and the COVID-19.

Everyday preventive actions to help reduce the spread of germs

• Refrain from handshakes/hugs
• If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness of any kind (e.g. fever, coughing, shortness of breath, etc.) please stay home and seek medical treatment.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

And If you are ill, stay home. Please be in touch with your medical professional to determine your next steps and/or evaluate your symptoms.

If you have events coming up where you or you know of someone in your group who is ill, please consider cancelling your event until again, the situation comes under control.

We sincerely appreciate your support and patience. Let’s work collectively through these times to ensure a safe environment for the entire 918 Bathurst Community.

[dcwalk]

The [Canadian Federal Government] announced a series of other new measures to limit the spread of COVID-19:

• International flights will only be permitted to land at a smaller number of airports. Those locations have not yet been announced.
• Boats and cruise ships carrying more than 500 people will be banned from docking at Canadian ports until July.
• All travellers arriving in Canada from international points are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution. People arriving from Hubei, China, Iran and Italy already have been asked to self-isolate.
• Enhanced screening measures at airports as well as marine, land and rail points of entry.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-covid-19-1.5496367

[dcwalk]

Did all this! closing!