Reopening safely

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Reopening safely

5/19/2020 10:00 AM

Tips and resources to support businesses as they start to return to work

The City of Vaughan is taking further steps to provide tips and resources to Vaughan businesses as some prepare to reopen, while adhering to federal, provincial and municipal guidelines to help stop the chain of transmission of COVID-19.

Water safety and testing in Vaughan business areas

The City’s Water Services team is proactively undertaking water flushing for all business areas across Vaughan. The initiative includes flushing in 22 blocks at more than 50 hydrants over the next week in anticipation of more businesses opening to the public. Proactive flushing ensures that water within the City’s watermains remains of the highest quality, ensuring that businesses are using the best quality water for their flushing and reopening processes.

As Vaughan businesses continue to follow the provincial government’s guidelines on reopening and resuming services, the City reminds business owners to keep the following water services tips in mind when thinking about, and preparing, to return to work:

Flush the entire building, including all appliances and storage devices. This includes flushing all toilets and running the faucets for a few moments.
Flush until all stagnant water is removed from the system. One key indicator is to flush or run a faucet until the water becomes colder. Cold water indicates it is fresh from the distribution system.
Start as soon as possible – the sooner flushing is started, the quicker potential stagnant water can be removed.

The City remains committed to providing high-quality water for residents and businesses across Vaughan. Business owners’ co-operation in achieving this commitment is appreciated by responsibly following the tips provided to flush internal plumbing and ensure businesses prepare to reopen safely.

For more information, or if you have questions regarding water flushing tips for businesses, contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and local businesses

The City’s Economic and Cultural Development (ECD) department continues to work with local companies that are converting their manufacturing capabilities to produce essential supplies and medical devices and connect with organizations producing and distributing essential goods during the pandemic. Organizations that would like to co-ordinate their endeavours with other agencies may contact ecd@vaughan.ca, visit yorklink.ca and email edo@york.ca with details on how their business is supporting the COVID-19 response, or offer emergency products, services and innovative solutions via the Ontario Together initiative.

The ECD department is also focused on helping businesses access federal and provincial government resources to attain small business loans and programs that support maintaining workers and providing PPE for workforces. Visit vaughanbusiness.ca for more information.

To support business-owners and workers, on May 14, the provincial government announced the launch of a website to provide businesses with information on PPE suppliers. The Workplace PPE Supplier Directory has an up-to-date list of Ontario companies and business associations that are ready to supply PPE. The province continues to prioritize the needs of patients, front-line healthcare workers and first responders when it comes to having critical equipment and supplies to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic, and businesses are encouraged to only access the PPE they need to keep their employees and customers safe.

Information, resources and guidance on how to help protect workers, customers and the general public from COVID-19 are available to businesses and services as they reopen. Visit york.ca/COVID19 for Public Health Resources and Guidelines for Businesses.

Local business directory

For the latest information on local businesses that are open during the current state of emergency, visit Vaughan’s Open for Business online directory. The voluntary listing includes both essential services and businesses that are open or providing modified operations by phone, online, takeout or delivery in compliance with provincial and municipal regulations. Vaughan businesses interested in being included in the list must apply and can do so through this online form.

These programs, resources and initiatives are the latest response from the City of Vaughan as it remains committed to providing relief to entrepreneurs and small-business owners and maintaining the competitiveness of the local economy.

For more information on support for local businesses, contact the City’s ECD department by email at ecd@vaughan.ca or by phone at 905-832-8526.

To receive the City’s latest COVID-19 updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.

Those who feel unwell and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19 should contact York Region Public Health or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.

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