Municipal offices in Chatham-Kent will close to the public indefinitely in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Effective immediately, the municipal centres in Blenheim, Chatham, Dresden, Ridgetown, Tilbury and Wallaceburg will be closed; as will the municipal information desks in Bothwell, Thamesville, Wheatley, and Chatham's Park Avenue Business Centre.
The closure will also shut down the Chatham and Dresden ServiceOntario locations.
Residents who have urgent municipal requests are asked to call 519-360-1998 or email ckinfo@chatham-kent.ca.
Only a few essential services will be scheduled for in-person appointments. Residents who pre-schedule an appointment at the Civic Centre or Chatham ServiceOntario will be screened at the entrance. The screening process includes a questionnaire regarding recent travel history and possible COVID-19 symptoms. Once inside, people will be asked to practice social distancing by staying at least two metres apart from one another.
Residents who have questions about phone payments for permits, dog tag licenses or services available online are asked to call 519-360-1998 or email ckinfo@chatham-kent.ca.
Municipal call centres will operate as per usual from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Municipal updates will also be posted to social media and through their website.
The Chatham-Kent Economic Development and the Small Business Centre will also be closed to the public. However, staff will still be working.
“It is important that the public understand that we are not closed, just temporarily conducting business and providing service in a different manner during these unprecedented times,” read a media release.
Local business owners can visit investck.ca to access COVID-19 Business Resources.