Good morning,
The Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce has been closely monitoring the unfolding response to the COVID-19 situation.
We are going to continue working on your behalf in both our community and while working with our governmental officials during this COVID-19 pandemic. The goal for our Chamber is to ensure that the information we share is accurate, informative and researched. The goal for our business and nonprofit members is to ensure the safety and well-being of your employees, volunteers and customers.
Please update us on what is happening in your business in regards to COVID-19 and potential impacts. Ask questions that you may have – that will help guide us on future updates. We can connect you with our local municipal, provincial and federal officials and as always, we can let them know what you need and advocate for you.
Here are some important updates for you:
General Background on COVID-19
If you’re looking for a reliable update on the virus, where it came from and what the response has been so far, we refer you to this situation summary. As you know, it’s unfolding very rapidly and the Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Officer has been doing daily updates on the situation in the Province.
Decision About Upcoming Events
After much thought and consideration, we have decided to postpone the Business Over Breakfast with the President of ACOA scheduled for March 19, 2020. We will be continuing to monitor the situation and make announcements about additional events when or if there is a need.
Resources for Employers
We are facing an unprecedented situation and as employers we must be thinking proactively about how we will respond to it. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has put together a great page of resources that can help you plan and communicate about COVID-19. Things such as flexible sick time, not requiring a doctor excuse for sick time (lessening the burden on the health care system), and planning for remote work in the event an employee must stay home for an extended time period are all things that we have heard from public health officials. We will continue to share resources on our website as they become available.
We must support each other – especially the most at-risk population, be extra patient with people during this time, support our local businesses, and continue to work together.
Tara Maddix
Executive Director
Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce