INNISFAIL- The town’s administration office was closed to the public this week following the revelation that a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19.
The positive COVID case was reported to the town at 7:30 a.m. on May 31, said Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer.
Becker said a staff member at the administration building had recently tested positive for COVID and the town immediately began its protocols of closing the town hall to the public, cleaning and conducting thorough contact tracing.
As for the present condition of the infected staff member, Becker said he did not have all the details.
“Obviously we are concerned about the employee, the employee remains in good spirits,” said Becker.
It is the third time since the pandemic began nearly 15 months ago that a Town of Innisfail staff member has tested positive for the virus. On April 15, the town reported that a staff member at the Innisfail Aquatic Centre had tested positive, and last November an outside worker was infected with the virus.
“It is precautionary at this point, and the office is closed to the general public,” said Becker, adding the rest of town staff is still doing its administrative work with “doors closed.” He said the public is still able to call in and conduct online payments.
“Administratively we are still in operation,” said Becker, adding he was not sure when town hall will be reopened for the public. “I’m expecting it to not be open tomorrow (June 1). Right now, I am going to state it’s unlikely the office will be open to the public on Tuesday.”
Mayor Jim Romane, along with other town councillors, said they were made aware of the latest positive COVID case earlier on Monday. Romane said closing the administration building to the public was the appropriate course of action.
“We have to make sure it is contained as soon as we can, and get everybody tested. It is really unfortunate it happened,” said Romane, acknowledging the positive case comes at a time when COVID numbers have recently dropped dramatically in the region and across the province. The mayor conceded the virus can never be taken for granted.
“I just tell people, ‘you wait until it’s post-COVID here, and the reports that we will start to get about the long-term effect of this,” said Romane. “It’s not going to be pretty. It isn’t just the flu. I have said that before. This is something different.”
