The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has made an unprecedented global impact, and concerns are growing as the disease continues to spread. COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. There are now more than 100,000 cases reported in over 100 countries. Major events are being cancelled and people are being advised to minimize social interactions.
At Condo Control Central, our team has been monitoring this situation, and we want to remind clients of certain features we offer which can help in the current situation. We realize that not every community uses all of our features — so this is a chance to look at some of the tools which may already be available for you but aren’t deployed.
We’ve also included details about our continuity plans at the end of this post to let you know what we’re doing to prepare and ensure service continuity.
Ways to help protect yourself and your community
We’ve heard multiple concerns from HOA and condo associations about the coronavirus and how it is impacting them. Here are a few of the CCC features (and other tools) which you can make use of to limit interactions in your community:
- Announcements
Given how quickly things are changing, it’s important to keep your community informed about what’s going on. For example — you can send an announcement if a meeting must be postponed or rescheduled. In addition to email, messages can be sent via text or an automated voice message. - Service Requests
Residents can continue to submit service requests online, and managers can make sure maintenance or other issues are addressed in a timely manner. More significantly — handling requests online reduces face-to-face interactions. - Proxy Voting
If your annual meeting is coming up, proxy voting or e-voting can help achieve quorum without having a large in-person gathering. Most importantly, owners can still participate without having to be physically present. - Amenity Booking
Handling these bookings manually typically requires several in-person interactions; from signing forms to making payments. If you haven’t turned on amenity booking, now is a good time to consider it. The entire process can be done online, and eliminates the need for residents to visit the management office. - Video Conferencing – Zoom
Boards may also consider using video conferencing tools to conduct board meetings remotely. At CCC our favorite video conferencing tool is Zoom. They offer both free and paid plans.
Our commitment to you
Our priority is the safety of our team, as well as ensuring our continued ability to deliver our service to our clients. To that end, we are following our business continuity plans and making use of remote working arrangements. Our lines of communication will remain open, and we will continue to be available to support our clients in the coming weeks and months.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact your account manager. We’re here to help.
In conclusion…
Taking precautionary steps and making use of all tools available to you can help ensure you and your community remain healthy. Again, if you need help making use of any of the above features, please reach out to your account manager.
If you need more information about the coronavirus and what you can do to protect yourself and your community, please consult the World Health Organization’s website.
If you are concerned that you or someone you know has contracted the virus, the information from Public Health Agency of Canada can help you understand what to do next.
Be proactive, don’t take unnecessary risks, and wash your hands!