Loyalist Township declares State Of Emergency due to COVID-19

On March 26, 2020 at 1:00 p.m., Loyalist Township Mayor, Ric Bresee, declared a State of Emergency for Loyalist Township as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. This declaration implements the emergency plan of the municipality and will help protect the health, safety, well-being and property of residents. This declaration of a State of Emergency is effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.

With evidence of community spread of COVID-19 in the KFL&A region, it has been determined an emergency exists within the Township that places residents at risk.  “We must act now to address this serious public health threat.” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Medical Officer of Health at KFL&A Public Health. “This situation clearly illustrates the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 and emphasizes the importance of practicing physical distancing and self-isolation in order to control the community spread of the virus.”

“We are a critical juncture. We must act urgently and collectively to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Every person in our community plays an important role; I implore our residents to follow the important advice from our local Public Health unit.” stated Mayor Bresee.

Precautions to prevent transmission include self-isolation, maintaining at least 2 metre distance from others, avoiding all unnecessary travel, washing your hands often, and regularly disinfecting high touch zones in shared spaces in your home.

The declaration of an emergency under s 4 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act provides the municipality with all options available to protect the health and safety of individuals and families living in Loyalist Township.

“Loyalist Township is declaring a State of Emergency to ensure that we can continue to deliver the essential municipal services to our residents. We need to ensure that our fire and emergency services are available when you call. We need to ensure our roads and transportation systems allow for the safe passage of goods to keep our supply chain moving. We need to ensure that your water and wastewater systems continue to be safe and secure. In order to keep those services functional, we need our highly trained staff to be available to us all. We take these measures today to give us the tools to keep our community functioning while the epidemic takes its course.” stated Mayor Bresee.

 “We recognize this is a difficult time for everyone, I applaud you for embracing internet-based communications and new ways of staying connected while staying apart. There are many businesses and resident groups that are offering services to make it easier for our residents to self-isolate and minimize public exposure. For this, I thank you.” expressed Bresee.