Norfolk County and the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit are urging visitors to be extremely cautious and to practice social distancing when visiting Pottahawk Island this weekend, in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
While the Health Unit recommends avoiding events where physical distancing could be difficult, those who choose to attend this weekend should follow all public health protocols, including:
- Do not attend if you feel unwell, have symptoms of COVID-19, have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days, or been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
- Maintaining a distance of at least 2m from those who aren’t a part of the same “social bubble”
- Wash hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub (i.e. hand sanitizer).
- If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Staying on one boat and not visiting other vessels
- Anchoring boats at least 2m apart, and not tying boats up together. Give neighboring boaters more space than usual.
- Not sharing food, beverages or personal items with others
- Frequently clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and shared items (e.g. ladders, handles, steering wheels, faucets and toilets) using regular household cleaners.
- Not gathering in groups of more than 10 people
- Monitor your health for 14 days and call to seek medical advice/assistance if you become ill. Notify the Health Unit at 519-426-6170 EXT 9999 if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
“Our residents have sacrificed a great deal over the last four months, and none of us wants all of that hard work to be undone in a single day,” says Mayor Kristal Chopp. “If you do decide to attend, then for the sake of our community, please follow all the appropriate protocols.”
OPP officers in uniform and plain clothes will be at marinas working with marina owners to ensure public safety both on and off the water and enforcing necessary laws.
Police will also be conducting random vessel checks throughout the day checking for sobriety and to ensure that all safety equipment is onboard. Police do have dedicated safety lanes that will allow officers to respond to incidents as they occur. These lanes are only used by police and should not be blocked by any vessel.
OPP will also be vigilantly patrolling Norfolk County highways and secondary roadways in the hopes of promoting motoring safety. Police will continue to target aggressive drivers who speed, drive under the influence of drugs/alcohol, drive distracted or fail to wear seat belts.
Norfolk County bylaw officers will also be patrolling in the area throughout the day.
