Up to ten council staff have tested positive for Covid

UP to 10 Derry City and Strabane council workers have tested positive for Covid19 and a small number of staff are self-isolating. 

Elected members of Derry City and Strabane District Council attended an online briefing yesterday evening to get an overview on how Council is continuing to provide services and responding accordingly to the worrying increase in COVID 19 cases across the Council area.

A small number of staff – less than 10 out of a workforce of 1000, have tested positive and a small number of staff are self-isolating and all measures to protect staff are in place.

The council members were reminded that every effort would be made to retain all essential services and that possible impact on services was inevitable over the coming days and weeks as managers adapt to new working practices and possible further staff issues.

Members attending the meeting agreed to a proposal for all Council committee meetings, including the Planning Committee and Full Council to resume to online for the month of October, to be reviewed at the end of the month.

It was also agreed that the focus of Halloween celebrations will be on digital programming and city dressing, with plans for fireworks to be cancelled in the interests of health and safety and to ensure there is no gatherings of people in our city and town centres on Halloween night.

Details of the online programme, animation and street dressing will be unveiled next week.

An update in relation to the continuation of services was also provided.

While the majority of Council services are operating, Council continues to face a number of challenges in the current environment and that the patience and understanding of the public is needed over the weeks and months ahead.

Some services are still affected with closures and restrictions, they include tier two leisure centres, some of the recycling centres, public toilets, sports pitches and pavilions, and festival and events and that these restrictions are necessary to allow Council to comply with the Government regulations and to keep our staff and the public safe.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Brian Tierney, who chaired the meeting, acknowledged the work being done by officials to keep essential services operating in difficult circumstances and praised the leadership role the Council has taken throughout the situation.

He said Council had responded promptly and proportionately to the first wave of the virus and had the mechanisms in place to deal with the current situation and any pending second wave.

Cllr Tierney appealed to the wider community in Derry and Strabane not to be fearful but to act proactively and with their usual goodwill and community spirit they are renowned for, by taking the necessary steps to reduce the spread of the virus.

He said by following the simple rules around hand washing, keeping 2metres apart, wearing a face covering and reducing the number of social contacts, they can make a positive impact to reduce the numbers and keep people safe over the coming days and weeks.