Brooks Mayor Barry Morishita - City of Brooks

By Tiffany Goodwein

Brooks unveils COVID-19 complaint line and assessment centre

Apr 26, 2020 | 9:51 AM

BROOKS AB – As cases of COVID-19 took a double digit jump on Saturday (Apr 25), Brooks’ mayor took to Facebook Live in the afternoon to make some key announcements relating to the community’s response.

Mayor Barry Morishita first announced a new community assessment site for people who do not show any COVID-19 symptoms.

“The assessment centre, to be clear, is for asymptomatic people. If you have symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever do not plan to attend this assessment centre. You should be staying home if you have symptoms, you should be self -isolating, calling 811 or use the online assessment tool”.

The assessment site, according to the mayor, is a collaboration between the city, the county and Alberta Health Services and is a direct response to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Open three days a week from 10 a.m, to 6 p.m. starting Monday April 27 to April 29, the site will be located north of the city at #4 Gun Club Road.

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Meantime, the mayor also touted a new measure aimed at cracking down on those not complying with public health orders.

Residents can now report any COVID-19 related concerns by phoning the complaint line at 403-794-4219, which is 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The city stresses that the COVID-19 complaint line is only for complaints.

Residents are encouraged to report concerns about social distancing, isolation requirements, large gatherings and businesses defying public health orders to remain closed.

Morishita explains that calls will be forwarded to law enforcement who will follow up on the complaint.

” It is really important for people to understand that this is not a tattle line. This is a public health effort. We are trying to make sure that those who maybe don’t understand or those who are just not following the public health orders are doing so. We know that is important to slow the spread down, so we encourage your active participation.”

The Mayor also provided new details on the isolation centres coming to the city.

” We are creating some isolation centres for those in our community who have unique housing situations that make self-isolation very difficult,” the mayor said, citing multi-generational, and overcrowded housing as examples.

Residents requiring an isolation space need to receive a referral by Alberta Health Services. The mayor had previously said that the self-isolation centres would likely be at local hotels.

”All of those accommodations are taking all the necessary precautions to ensure safety for staff and those accessing these services.”

This past week the province’s chief medical officer announced two deaths in the city of Brooks. Both were COVID-19 related.

” I want to offer my sincere condolences to those families and friends. I know it is a horrible time for everyone. We are all feeling worried and anxious about what is in front of us and what is to come but I want to assure you that we are doing everything we can,” Morishita said.