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The original item was published from 5/13/2020 12:16:18 PM to 5/19/2020 12:00:00 AM.

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Posted on: May 13, 2020

[ARCHIVED] City of White Rock discourages visits to seaside city during May long weekend

East beach waterfront at White Rock with tide out and blue skies.

The City of White Rock is encouraging people not to visit White Rock on the May long weekend, and instead to stay in their own communities, as directed by the Province during the COVID-19 pandemic.

White Rock, known as the City by the Sea with its sunny weather and sandy beaches, is a popular tourist attraction. The White Rock Pier, the Waterfront Promenade, the City’s waterfront parking lots and West Beach Parkade have closed due to COVID-19 safe distancing concerns.

A limited number of paid parking stalls is available on Marine Drive for 30 minutes to allow people time to pick up takeout food and other items. Parking time limits are being enforced.

Four-hour reserved parking is available on the West Beach for residents who have yellow decals from 2019 or 2020. Visit www.whiterockcity.ca/parking for more information.

City Council plans to align its reopening strategy with BC’s Restart Plan, a four-phase direction to all residents and businesses outlined by the Province. Phase 2 begins in mid-May, and includes a number of services.

Council is defining a task force that will work with businesses in the community, social groups, not-for-profit organizations, arts and cultural groups, residents and all levels of government to address the social and economic needs of White Rock’s reopening.

Quote

Mayor Darryl Walker


“If I have one message for visitors, it’s ‘Don’t come to White Rock now.’ The Pier, the Promenade and waterfront parking are all closed. There is nowhere for you to go here. Come back later to visit our beautiful city.

To residents and local businesses, I say let’s continue to be kind and patient as we travel in uncharted territory. Together, we will create a made-in-White-Rock solution that ensures we keep our residents safe and that when we reopen, it can stick.

We are all in this together, and we will get through this together.”


The BC Restart Plan: Next Steps to Move BC through the Pandemic

The Province has identified four phases to the BC Restart Plan: Next Steps to Move BC through the Pandemic. The second phase, which we enter in mid-May, includes:

  • Restoration of health services
  • Re-scheduling elective surgery
  • Medically related services: dentistry, physiotherapy, registered massage therapy, chiropractors, physical therapy, speech therapy, and similar services
  • Retail sector
  • Hair salons/ barbers/other personal service establishments
  • In-person counselling
  • Restaurants, cafes, pubs – with sufficient distancing measures
  • Museums, art galleries, libraries
  • Office-based worksites
  • Recreation/sports
  • Parks, beaches and outdoor spaces
  • Child care

Premier John Horgan from the BC Restart Plan

British Columbians are pulling together and your government is pulling in the same direction.

There is already strong public awareness of the risks of transmission and people remain vigilant.

And we are in incredibly capable hands with our public service, Dr. Bonnie Henry and the team at the Ministry of Health – their mathematical modelling has held up and provides us with a path forward.

Dr. Bonnie Henry and the ‘New Normal’

Our “new normal” is based on principles that apply to every person and every situation. These principles are the foundation of how we need to move forward with our B.C. plan, and will remain in place for the weeks and months ahead. These principles include:

  1. Staying informed, being prepared and following public health advice;
  2. Practising good hygiene – hand hygiene, avoid touching your face and respiratory etiquette;
  3. Staying at home and away from others if you are feeling ill – with no exceptions – whether for school, work or socializing;
  4. Maintaining physical distancing outside the household, e.g., no handshakes or hugs, keeping your number of contacts low and keeping a safe distance;
  5. Making necessary contacts safer with appropriate controls, e.g., using Plexiglas barriers or redesigning spaces;
  6. Increasing cleaning of frequently touched surfaces at home and work;
  7. Considering the use of non-medical masks in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as on transit or while shopping; and,
  8. Continuing to minimize non-essential personal travel. I have seen the strength and resilience in British Columbians that I know will hold us in good stead in the months ahead. We must continue to keep our firewall strong and remain committed to our efforts to protect our province.

Be kind, be calm, be safe.

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