P.A. MP Randy Hoback is self-monitoring his own health situation. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

COVID-19

Hoback suspends face-to-face service on Coronavirus concerns

Mar 12, 2020 | 1:02 PM

Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback is temporarily closing his Prince Albert and Nipawin offices to face-to-face service in response to the novel Coronavirus. Matters will be handled by phone, email and video conferencing.

Speaking to paNOW from his office in Ottawa, Hoback said the measures were necessary as information on the COVID-19 pandemic was frequently changing, and to help stop its spread.

“Our staff won’t be travelling throughout the riding in the short-term,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re not either contracting the virus or spreading it.”

He stressed everyone should take updates seriously, follow the advice of health care professionals and government officials and, if anyone does feel unwell, they should just stay at home.

“It would be a really bad situation if we had an outbreak, especially in some of the smaller communities in the riding and even in Prince Albert at the same time the influenza season is still in effect. It [could] overrun our medical services and that’s a concern,” he said.

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As for Hoback’s own health situation he said he was self-monitoring, having attended a major conference in Toronto last week at which a delegate contracted COVID-19. He said he wouldn’t be returning to Prince Albert until at least Match 16, which would end a two-week incubation period.

“I’m not experiencing any symptoms or signs and I’m probably being overly cautious, but from what I’m hearing today and from around the world I would stress that everybody needs to be cautious,” he said.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow