By now, most residents of British Columbia are aware that avoiding contact with other people is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, this might pose more of a challenge for people living in apartment buildings.
For one, a number of Lower Mainland buildings have small, high-traffic areas such as lobbies, elevators and laundry rooms. These shared spaces are often frequented by dozens of people daily, and safe social distancing may be hard to maintain.
LandlordBC underscores that, "Landlords have a responsibility under the Residential Tenancy Act to provide and maintain a safe rental unit and residential property." As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased vigilance is required to mitigate the potential risk to tenants and staff.
The company suggests that landlords issue more frequent cleaning of high traffic areas such as lobbies, elevators and laundry rooms with disinfecting products. Building managers should also consider placing alcohol-based hand sanitizer in common areas to promote cleanliness, and appropriate signage recommending that residents exercise due diligence. For example, signage may recommend that tenants and occupants not get into already full elevators to ensure everyone can maintain adequate distance as advised.
LandlordBC also recommends communicating to residents to limit their use of shared laundry facilities and try to use them during off peak times.
In terms of having guests over, LandlordBC remarks that, "it is reasonable to request that residents recognize their responsibility for their own health and safety and the health and safety of fellow residents, and therefore not invite guests recently returning to Canada from a foreign country and to support “social distancing” recommendations from our healthcare leaders."
LandlordBC also advises to provide tenants with general information about confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the building. It states that general information should be shared such as “there is a confirmed case on the second floor” to protect the privacy of the affected individual. However, the identity of the individual should be protected.
If a tenant in your building contracts COVID-19 the health authority for your region should reach out to any individuals who may have encountered the infected person to determine the best course of action. Your local health authority may also contact building management to deal with staff concerns.
The BC Ministry of Health has developed a new assesment tool for people who aren't sure if they require further testing or assessment for COVID-19.
Launched on Monday, March 16, the free online tool may be completed for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.
