Message from the Mayor COVID 19 - Media Release Update

Given the current circumstances with the COVID 19 virus I thought it appropriate that I again touch base with the Community to keep you up to date with developments.

Council and other agencies are working together to minimise any potential exposure within our community. We need to personally ensure we take all steps necessary to protect ourselves – in particular hand washing and social distancing should be maintained. In our area we have people from many nationalities all contributing to our economy – we still need to maintain our economic base as well as we can while taking precautions, to ensure our sustainability when this coronavirus has run its course. We are all in this together please look after each other while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

For Council it has generally been business as usual, essential services such as water, sewerage, transport and communication need to continue. Council staff are following approved guidelines while carrying out their function. Council has had to close caravan parks to short term occupation, the library has had to close, along with our swimming pools. Council has also been instructed to close playgrounds and skate parks.

Information provided to Council by the National Cabinet is that while the number of infections is rising the virus curve is slowing – social distancing measures are slowing the spread of the virus while allowing Australia to protect lives and still function.

The National Cabinet has limited indoor and outdoor Public gatherings to two people the only exceptions are:

It is important that people over seventy years of age or with existing health conditions take additional care – try to limit contact as much as possible and avoid outside travel.

In closing I am pleased with how the Council staff have remained calm and carried out their duties during these times. Our community can also congratulate itself for the support it has shown to each other and for the composed manner in which we have adjusted our daily routine. At the time of writing this message there is no reported case of COVID 19 in Carrathool Shire Council.

For further information visit the NSW Health Website www.health.nsw.gov.au or Murrumbidgee Local Health District website - www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au .