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COVID-19 update from Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi

Community COVID-19 Update — March 28-2020
Omer Moghrabi
Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi

 Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi

Because this week has brought a lot of changes, including the closure of non-essential services to the public, I’d like to update you on how the County has been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

First, I’d like to thank the public and business community for keeping Lac La Biche County safe. The vast majority of residents have taken the Government of Alberta’s public health orders seriously, and changed their shopping, hygiene, and social habits to limit the spread of COVID-19. These are important steps to protect everyone, especially the elderly and vulnerable.

Business office closures

Despite the challenges that this pandemic has posed, our businesses have shown both ingenuity and courage by finding safer ways to deliver services, even as the situation changes daily. Thank you to all businesses for doing your part to minimize the chance of COVID-19 spread in the County. It’s important to keep supporting our local economy through online or delivery services, as recommended by Alberta Health Services.

You have probably heard by now that the Government of Alberta is requiring all non-essential services to close to the public. Essential services can keep storefronts open. However, I encourage businesses to continue finding alternative ways to maintain their services through safer online or door-to-door delivery methods. Be sure to comply with all Government of Alberta requirements.

Command POST

Second, the County has established a COVID-19 Incident Command Post with representatives from several County departments. They are meeting daily from Monday to Friday, and on call over weekends. They’ve developed strategies to ensure that the County can continue to deliver essential services to residents, even if the situation worsens.

This team is also in regular contact with the following government departments and agencies.

  • Alberta Health: they issue pandemic guidelines that the County follows in its operations (such as self-isolation and physical distancing).
  • Alberta Health Services: staff both at the William J. Cadzow Hospital in Lac La Biche plus provincial staff have been updating us on the progress of pandemic planning in the County. 
  • Alberta Community and Social Services: we work with them on daycare and homeless shelter matters.
  • Alberta Emergency Management Agency: this is the County’s direct pipeline to the Provincial Operations Centre.
  • Alberta Justice: they govern community peace officers, especially their authorities under the current provincial state of public health emergency.
  • Alberta Municipal Affairs: this is the main governing department for municipalities. Both Council and staff contact all levels for advice regarding governance and possible grant funding.

In addition, County staff keep in touch with Alberta Environment and Parks, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, and other provincial departments daily. The County also has frequent discussions with its municipal organizations, such as the Rural Municipalities of Alberta and the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, as well as our counterparts in neighbouring municipalities.

Both myself and Administration participate in province-wide conference calls with Premier Jason Kenney, provincial ministers, and Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

Together

We have been working hard to respond to this pandemic, and I’d like to assure you that we are doing everything we can to protect the County and see it through this crisis. I’m proud to say that Council, Administration, our businesses, and County residents are all cooperating to keep each other safe and supported in these uncertain times. We will get through this together, and come out of this a stronger, more resilient community.

Omer Moghrabi, Mayor

Lac La Biche County




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