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City council gathered Monday morning with seven empty chairs around the city hall horseshoe.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi and six councillors were all working from home, participating in the meeting remotely as council splits up its elected officials, making sure they aren’t all gathering together at once, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing was also in effect in council chambers, with one chair in between each councillor.

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The city declared a state of local emergency in Calgary Sunday, just a few hours after the province announced that all schools and daycares will be closed “indefinitely.” Calgary followed suit by ordering the closure of all libraries and city-owned recreation and fitness centres.

Businesses — excluding grocery stores, pharmacies, office buildings and a few others — are also now required not to exceed more than half their capacity under fire code. The Calgary Zoo, Calgary Tower, Heritage Park and others closed their doors Monday, and some local bars and eateries have followed suit.