City of Chestermere Mayor Marshall Chalmers is calling for further partnership and vigilance in the community after four more cases were confirmed yesterday in Chestermere bringing the total to 15.

“The COVID-19 virus is the world’s, all of humanity’s, fight,” says Mayor Chalmers. “We cannot overpower it. All we can do is learn from it, and respect that if we ignore it, or pretend that it doesn’t exist, or don’t follow protocols to protect ourselves from it, more people will get sick.  And more people will die. This is the stark reality.”

The total number of COVID-19 cases globally has now surpassed one million. Mayor Chalmers illustrated that countries like South Korea acted quickly and now have strict measures in place and that Alberta and Chestermere can learn from their actions.

“As your Mayor, I will continue to push for enhanced co-ordination between all levels of government, including all relevant professionals representing various areas of expertise, to help us in COVID-19 containment and response,” adds Chalmers.

Chestermere’s Emergency Management Team wants to draw attention to an ongoing concern with curbside waste collection. For the health and safety of environmental services operators don’t overfill curbside bins, ensure all items fit inside the bins, and the lid can close and don’t place additional bags of garbage beside carts; operators have been directed not to handle these items for safety reasons.

“Each and every day, our RCMP, Community Peace Officers, and Safety Officers are patrolling businesses and public areas to monitor for compliance of the mandatory sanitary measures and physical distancing practices,” says Mayor Chalmers. “Our preference is to partner with the community to share information and educate you on what is expected, but where necessary, fines will be issued.”

“We realize these are difficult times for everyone, but let’s work together, Chestermere. We all have a responsibility to protect each other, our loved ones and our community,” said Chalmers.