(submitted photo/ City of Brooks)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Brooks announces COVID-19 complaint line, location of assessment centre

Apr 25, 2020 | 5:31 PM

BROOKS AB- As cases of COVID-19 reach the 389 mark, the Mayor of Brooks took to Facebook Live Saturday afternoon to make some key announcements relating to their COVID-19 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 if 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,” Mayor Barry Morishita said.

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.

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

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 phone through the complaint line at 403-794-4219.

The line is open 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.

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,” Morishita said.

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

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

Residents requiring an isolation space need to receive a referral by Alberta Health Services.

On Wednesday, the mayor told CHAT News Today that the self-isolation centres will 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,” Morishita said.

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.