COVID-19 TOWN INFORMATION

By Christa JonesNotices

Please click here for March 14, 2020 Town of Deer Lake press release regarding COVID-19 and Town Facilities

The Deer Lake Town Council and staff want to assure residents we are continuing to work diligently. Meetings are occurring in a safe manner via technology as we navigate through this evolving pandemic as effectively as possible.
 
We are continuously evaluating town based measures and taking advice from our local Medical Professionals as well as our Provincial and Federal counterparts. We are networking with other Municipalities on how to best protect our residents with respect to Covid -19.
 
As we all know these are unprecedented times and we are asking everyone in our community to do their part in practicing social distancing, following best practices in personal hygiene, and to please keep our most vulnerable in mind. Our Facebook page will be used as a fact based information sharing hub as more information becomes available.
 
Please look after each other, stay safe, and as always feel free to share our posts!

 

COVID-19 MEASURES

The Town of Deer Lake is taking measures as it relates to COVID-19 to follow the guidelines and recommendations of the various public health agencies and the federal and provincial governments to do its part to protect its employees, while continuing to maintain essential services.  It is taking other measures to reduce transmission.

 

What is the Town doing?

Effective end of day on Saturday, March 14, 2020, the Town of Deer Laker closed the Hodder Memorial Recreation Complex and all its recreation programs and activities that operate from that facility.  All other town programming and activities have been cancelled until further notice.

 

Council Meetings and Town Office

Regular Council Meetings will be postponed until further notice.

The Town Office is being closed to the public until further notice. This is in response to the social distancing recommendations for the protection of staff and the public. Staff will still be working and residents can continue to contact the town office by telephone (709-635-2451) or email (deerlake@nf.aibn.com).

Tax Payments:

While the town office is closed to the public, tax payments can be made  online banking, credit card or by mailing a cheque. Pre-authorized payments will continue as usual. Please contact the town office if you would like to set up pre-authorized payments. Seniors or those that are immune compromised and do not have these payment options available to them; please contact the town office for further options.

Update March 26,2020:  The Deer Lake Town Council has decided to extend the March 31 deadline for interest free tax accounts to June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be no interest applied to accounts during this time, please remember we still have lots of payment options available, call 635-2451 or e-mail deerlakeadmin@nf.aibn.com if you would like to discuss your options or make a payment.

 

Permits:

The Town will continue to accept and process applications. Application forms and documentation required can be emailed to deerlakereception@nf.aibn.com or by mail. Application forms are available on the Town’s website at www.deerlake.ca. Application fees, where required, can be paid through online banking, credit card or mailing a cheque. You will be contacted upon submission of your application with further payment details.

 

Public Works Department

The Public Works Department will be closed to the public.  Please call the Town Office to schedule an appointment if essential services are required at 635-2451.

 

Fire Rescue Department

Planned training exercises have been halted until further notice. This decision did not come lightly, however we feel our members will be better equipped to respond to calls when we are healthy and not running the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19.

Meetings that would normally be held with the department as a whole will be haulted and will limit necessary meetings to the Executive and Officers only and maintain constant contact though internal messaging and telephone calls.

The fire hall will remain closed to the general public and we will not be scheduling any tours or community visits.

 

The Town is making protection of its employees and residents’ priority while continuing to maintain essential services.  Measures and resources have been put in place to allow employees to comply with guidelines on social distancing, good hygiene habits and to follow advice of public health officials, if symptoms are exhibited.

 

The Town recommends that residents follow the guidelines and information being provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the federal and provincial health agencies, and the federal and provincial governments.

For updated information and recommendations from both the provincial and federal government regarding COVID-19, please see the following links:

 

World Health Organization (WHO);

https://www.who.int/

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador:
https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/

Government of Canada:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool can be found online here:
https://www.811healthline.ca/covid-19-self-assessment/