City of Winnipeg to update on coronavirus, flooding response Monday afternoon

The City of Winnipeg says 41 property owners will need dikes to protect from river flooding, and another 16 remain at risk of flooding this spring.

In a release Monday afternoon the city said crews continue to monitor river levels and are working with the province to decide if additional properties will require sandbag dikes.

As of 1:18 p.m. Monday the river level at James Avenue was 14.69 feet, the city said. River levels are available at the city’s website, updated in real time every 10 minutes.

Mayor Brian Bowman is expected to talk more about the risk of spring flooding at a press conference scheduled for 3 p.m. Jason Shaw, head of the city’s emergency operations centre will also be on hand to update on the city’s ongoing response to COVID-19.

Global News will endeavour to stream the press conference live in this story.

In the meantime the city says only those properties notified directly are considered at risk of flooding, and anyone who hasn’t heard from city officials who thinks their property is at risk should contact 311.

While property owners are responsible for building their own sandbag dikes, the city says homeowners who have trouble finding volunteers due to COVID-19 may get help from city crews.

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.

Source: Read Full Article