March 18, 2020, Alberta Health Services released more detailed information about the COVID-19 cases in Alberta. Chestermere is listed as having 2 confirmed cases.

“This deadly virus, wreaking havoc in countries, cities, communities across the world, is here in our community,” said Mayor Marshall Chalmers in an announcement last evening. “You have heard my pleas for proper protection measures. Now, more than ever, your actions and response is critical.”

Yesterday, Chalmers was joined by members of Chestermere Fire Services who were dressed in personal protective gear, to demonstrate how they now respond to every shift in order to protect themselves from coming into contact with COVID-19.  

 The City of Chestermere joins the growing list of municipalities in Alberta to declare a local state of emergency due to COVID-19.

The city made the declaration on Tuesday afternoon.

“We take this situation extremely seriously,” Mayor Marshall Chalmers said. 

Effective March 17, three major changes have been made in the city:

• Businesses must restrict the number of people on their premises to 50 per cent or less of their maximum occupancy load.
• Businesses must have hand sanitizer stations on location
• Residents are strongly advised to limit social gatherings in their homes.

Small business owners reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 say their very survival is in jeopardy if commercial landlords don’t step up with rent deferrals.

Annie Dormuth, Alberta director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said landlords should be providing flexibility and forgiveness to small business tenants who are experiencing serious cash flow difficulties right now, or have zero cash flow altogether. 

From restaurants to retail shops to nail salons, many small businesses have seen their customers vanish and their revenue dry up as Calgary and the rest of Canada shut down in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.