Waterloo Region Nature encourages members to get into Earth Day cleanup while staying safe

Waterloo Region Nature is encouraging its members and others to take part in an Earth Day cleanup, while reminding everyone that COVID-19 rules must be adhered to at all times.

Organizer Roger Sufflingsaid due to the pandemic, people will be working in their own neighbourhoods, physically separated, but very much together in the project.

He said people have been asked to go out individually, wear amask, and if they're with anyone else, they should observe physical distancing rules.

"We've emphasized that we want them to do it individually and we want them to stay safe," Suffling told CBC K-W.

"It's something people can do while they're exercising."

Earth Day, which is celebrated every April 22, will mark its 48th anniversary this Thursday.

'Be safe in every aspect'

Suffling said Waterloo Region Nature will be collecting selfies from participants.

"It's not really a numbers game. It's just something fun to do and useful for the community,"he said. "If it's three or four people, it helps. If it's 40 people, that's terrific.

"I would say to people, be safe in every aspect. Don't handle needles, stay clean, stay separate, stay masked, have fun and let's make our community look and feel good."

Residents advised to stay at home as much as possible

Meanwhile, Aldo Franco, manager of health protection and investigation at Region of Waterloo Public Health is reminding people to limit close contact with others.

"Under the province's stay-at-home order, all residents are advised to stay at home as much as possible, leaving only for essential purposes, including outdoor exercise," Franco wrote in an email to CBC News.

"All residents are directed to limit close contact to only members of your household, including when outdoors. If you live alone, you can have close contact with only one other household. For all others, maintain physical distancing and wear a face covering when distance cannot be guaranteed."