The public health department has given the green light to open area beaches for the season, however, Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) residents are still waiting to get access.
“Staff is working diligently right now,” said Shawn Everitt, CAO of the TBM. “We know the pressure is going to be, and already is, on to get our parks and waterfront open.”
On May 28, the Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU) rescinded its order that was issued on May 14, which required all municipalities to close all beaches.
“The intent of the May 14 order was to send a message provincially that Grey and Bruce counties are not open for tourism yet,” said Dr. Ian Arra, GBHU medical officer of health in a news release.
“This would deter one-day visitors and prevent mass gatherings on beaches. The ultimate goal is to suppress community transmission of COVID-19 for all residents in Grey and Bruce and protect the most vulnerable of us, seniors and individuals with comorbidities who would suffer severe disease,” he said.
While rescinding the order, Arra noted municipalities may want to consider their own bylaw in regards to beach closures and restrictions.
“Risk of COVID-19 spread related to day-use beaches in any municipality has the potential to increase the prevalence of the disease in the wider health unit; this is especially so during popular tourist gathering times, like holiday weekends. We encourage all municipalities to consider adoption of such by-law,” stated Arra.
So far, the TBM has seen low numbers of COVID-19, with only five total cases and no deaths or hospitalizations.
“People will start to come up here and that is going to pose a few challenges in that, what we want to do is make sure that when they come that procedures and processes are in place to keep people as safe as possible,” said TBM mayor Alar Soever.
Everitt says TBM is working to get the pieces in place in order to open its beaches and parks to the public as soon as possible, but notes that putting these safety measures in place takes time and also comes at a cost.
“At the end of the day, there is a significant cost to reopen our parks and waterfront,” he said. “We are trying to be as creative as possible as we fully anticipate that over the next few months there will be significant changes to the phasing and reopenings.”
He explains TBM is trying to develop signage that will be able to be modified throughout the various reopening phases, as opposed to a design that would be for single use.
“There is a lot to consider. The new normal will be a lot different and there will be some costs and additional staffing,” Soever added, noting that a more detailed report on the financial impacts of COVID-19 is expected to come before TBM council by the end of June.
Along with signs, the TBM is looking to establish additional public washroom facilities, handwashing stations, as well as visual social distancing reminders.
Everitt adds the high-water levels in the Georgian Bay will add additional challenges to controlling crowds on area beaches.
“Northwinds beach is one of our biggest areas of concern in understanding that the square footage that we have today is significantly different than what it was five years ago,” he said
“We are very interested in using the infamous [social distancing] circles and having those in our parks, but I know on the weekend, looking at Northwinds personally, there are not very many circles that are going to be available. And, that is just the reality of it.”
