Montgomery Residents - COVID 19 Memo
To Our Montgomery Community,
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant concern around the world and within the State of Minnesota. The virus has infected 14 people in Minnesota as of March 14 and health officials indicate this number will increase. The goal, as stated by the Governor and the Commission of Health in their address March 13, is to slow the spread so it does not overwhelm the health care system.
The City continues to work with health authorities and others who can advise on how best local government and its citizens can aid one another in limiting the spread of the virus. The City will implement and follow recommendations of the Minnesota Department of Health that were issued March 13, 2020.
The most important thing right now is for you and your family to take all appropriate measures to prevent the spread of this virus. We know them all by now, but they bear repeating:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid shaking hands.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, into your elbow, and then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Try to maintain a distance of 6 feet for a period of over 10 minutes.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care. Call the clinic before going
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
The Governor declared a Peace Time State of Emergency and recommended the cancellation or postponement of large gatherings of 250 or more people. Recommending cancelling or postponing gatherings of less than 250 people if social distancing cannot be maintained. Recommending the cancelling or postponement of gatherings of 10 or more if the group includes those individuals who are at increased risk.
It is also important that you keep yourself informed about restrictions from your affiliated organizations and official instructions from public health officials. The best source of information continues to be the Minnesota Department of Health www.health.state.mn.us and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov. These websites are linked on the City’s website at www.cityofmontgomerymn.com.
To help mitigate the spread of the virus and to comply with the recommendations of the State, the City will be taking the following steps. These steps are being implemented to protect city staff and the community as a whole.
- At this point, we have not modified public hours for City Hall. We will continue to monitor the situation and may restrict access if recommended by the Department of Health.
- To ensure social distancing, if you come to City Hall, you will not be allowed within the office area and will be required to stand behind the counter.
- Staff will be wiping down and cleaning the counter regularly throughout the day.
- Regular council meetings will continue for the time being. This may change depending on recommendations of the Department of Health.
- All meetings of board and commissions have been suspended until at least April 17.
- Non-essential functions of the City may be suspended, this would include street sweeping, street patching, lock-out assistance, etc.
- Groups who use the City Hall for meetings and events are cancelled until at least April 17, 2020. If you have a group that uses City Hall, please contact the city for updates on the facilities availability.
- You may notice staff interacting differently by keeping a bit more distance, not shaking your hand, etc. Staff have been advised and encourage to keep distance when interacting with the public. Again, this is for their safety and to minimize the potential of virus spread.
How Can You Help? Most importantly is to keep yourself informed and practice the prevention methods outlined by the Department of Health and the CDC. If you are sick or feeling sick – STAY HOME.
Consider doing business with the City. Many of our services can be accessed on-line, by phone or via email. Go to www.cityofmontgomerymn.com or 507-364-8888.
On behalf of the City Council and City Staff.
Mayor Tom Eisert
Brian Heck, City Administrator