A rise in COVID-19 variants and cases in the community has prompted the Town of Okotoks to close all of its indoor facilities for two weeks.
The municipal building, operations centre, recreation centre, and Okotoks Family Resource Centre will close from April 29 to May 14, inclusively. The Eco Centre will remain open at this time.
Current restrictions have still seen about 2,500 visitors per week visiting these facilities and the Town hopes to reduce possible transmission within its indoor sites.
"An increase in exposures within our essential services areas means we must act now to ensure continued service delivery to residents," said Trevor Brice, Okotoks fire chief and director of emergency management. "This change also ensures the contact tracing the Town needs to complete for safe work practices can focus on tracing requirements for our essential services."
Those essential services include RCMP, Municipal Enforcement, fire services, water and sewer utilities, waste, road maintenance, childcare and transit.
As of 8 p.m. April 28 Okotoks had 211 active cases, an active case rate of 592 per 100,000, which Brice said is among one of the highest rates in the province.
All Town services are available by phone, email, and on the website. Online fitness courses will still be offered, but swimming lessons and in-person indoor fitness activities will be cancelled.
Sports field bookings remain available on the Town website.
The Town will reassess the status of indoor facilities on May 12 to determine whether restrictions can be adjusted.
For more information, visit www.okotoks.ca.
