Letter to Bedford Residents Regarding COVID-19Download

As was sent out by the City of Bedford on 3/13/20

Dear Residents:

I know you have all been watching the news about the COVID-19 virus and the additional preventive measures announced yesterday by the State of Ohio and Governor Mike DeWine. The City of Bedford also continues to monitor this evolving situation. While there is no reason to panic, the City of Bedford is following direction from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the Ohio Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. I would like to reassure residents that although these preventive measures are intensifying and you may encounter increased disruption in ordinary life, these decisions are made out of abundance of caution and our strategy now is to mitigate the “community spread”. To that end, the City of Bedford has made the following decisions as it pertains to programming, meetings, services, etc.:

  • All Senior Club activities and luncheons are postponed until April 6th.
  • The Senior Health Fair scheduled for March 18th has been postponed.
  • Elections taking place at Ellenwood Center on Tuesday, March 17th will go on as scheduled.
  • Elections scheduled to take place at Light of Hearts Villa have been relocated to the Ellenwood Center (Room 4).
  • The Ellenwood Center is scheduled to be further sanitized late Monday, prior to Tuesday’s elections, and immediately afterwards on Wednesday.
  • All Parks & Recreation Department programs and Ellenwood Center rentals beginning March 13th through April 6th; including the Mother/Son Dance (3/13), Parks & Recreation Town Hall Meeting (3/21), and Easter Egg Hunt (4/4) have been suspended. Participants registered for programs scheduled to take place during this time are eligible for a full credit or refund.  
  • Senior Transportation Connection will continue to provide transportation services to our seniors. Please know that STC vehicles; including but not limited to, seats, floors, and railings are cleaned daily and drivers are equipped with hand sanitizer.   
  • The Ward Meetings scheduled for March 23rd, March 30th and April 27th have been postponed.
  • The Service Department will continue to respond to sewer calls, however, staff members will not be permitted to enter residents’ homes.
  • The Municipal Building is scheduled to be cleaned every morning starting at 5:30am prior to the start of business. We are also taking steps to further sanitize the public buildings on a regular schedule. With that being said, residents are encouraged to avoid in-person visits to City Hall and instead use the City’s online services where possible, mail, email or call respective departments for needs or questions. For further assistance, please call (440)232-1600.

To slow transmission of the COVID-19 and other infectious respiratory diseases (including the flu), we encourage community members; especially older adults and others who are more susceptible to illness, to practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC and continue to practice good hygiene habits such as:

  1. Stay at home when you are sick.
  2. Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  3. Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds or longer and then dry hands with a clean towel or air dry.
  4. Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
  5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands or after touching surfaces.
  6. Clean and disinfect “high-touch” surfaces often (counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.
  7. Call before visiting your doctor.

                                                                                                                    In an effort to educate ourselves with facts not fear, please visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov. The Ohio Department of Health has also set up a call center for questions surrounding the COVID-19 virus. The call center is open seven days a week from 9am to 8pm and can be reached at 1-833-427-5634.   Community members can also visit the City of Bedford’s website and social media platforms for current and future updates at www.bedfordoh.gov.
Thank you for your cooperation, understanding and partnership during these unprecedented times. As a community we will get through them together through flexibility and common sense. 
Sincerely,
Michael S. Mallis City Manager