Walking through City Hall and around downtown Kingston, it’s eerily quiet to Mayor Bryan Paterson, thanks to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s a signal to me that people are taking the precautions, taking the advice from our health-care professionals seriously and embracing social distancing,” Paterson said. “As a community, we’re doing all of the right things and that’s why I’m confident that we’re going to be fine as a community.”

In light of COVID-19, people around the world are being instructed to practise social distancing and to isolate themselves as much as possible. Despite this, the number of cases across the country continues the rise, and in Kingston three have been identified so far.

Paterson said the city and Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Health, under the leadership of medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore, are working together every step of the way. He’s on the phone with public health multiple times a day, he said.

“We have been testing hundreds of people here locally over the last few weeks, and I know speaking with (Dr. Moore) we did anticipate seeing positive diagnoses before too long,” Paterson said. “But this is only confirming that our local testing and monitoring system is working, and that’s really important.”

He later added, “As Dr. Moore has said, we remain a low-risk community. Obviously we want to stay that way, but we will continue to monitor and respond as needed.”

While workers were starting to be sent home last week, the province’s declaration of a state of emergency shuttered the doors of many businesses. This has left many without a paycheque. While housing has been an issue in Kingston for a couple of years, now those with housing may not be able to pay their rent or mortgage. On Wednesday, the country’s six big banks announced they would allow customers to defer their payments for six months.

On Wednesday afternoon, the city announced there would be no restrictions for on-street, residential parking. A release said the move is “an effort to better accommodate the parking needs of health-care workers who are experiencing changes to their daily commute, as well as residents who are working from home.”

“This change is being made to ensure that the parking supply throughout the city remains available and accessible to those who require it.”

On Thursday afternoon, Kingston Transit became free as the city asked passengers to board at the back of the bus and to not pay with cash, with paper transfers or show their transit passes.

Paterson said the city would be speaking with its provincial and federal counterparts to see how the municipality will be able to help its residents.

“Obviously we’re going to advocate as hard as we can for Kingstonians,” Paterson said. “We know that this is a difficult situation for many. As a city, we’re trying to do as much as we can to support businesses and workers. We’re trying to understand those impacts day to day as it’s evolving.”

Paterson said it is amazing how much his work has changed in less than a week.

“Normally I’m rarely in the office. I’m usually going from meeting to meeting and community event to community event,” Paterson said. “Now I’m spending a lot more time in my office, on the phone. That is the reality of the situation that we have.”

scrosier@postmedia.com

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