March 17, 2020

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Shortly after Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward issued a statement Tuesday (March 17).

“I applaud this decision,” said Meed Ward. “I know it was not made lightly and is based on the advice of top health experts.”

“This action aligns with what we are seeing in other provinces and places around the world as we collectively work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve of new cases. Doing so is an essential part of preventing our healthcare system from being overwhelmed and keeping as many people healthy as possible.”

Through March 31, the Ontario government requires that the following establishments are legally required to close immediately:

Facilities providing indoor recreational programs

Public libraries

Private schools as defined in the Education Act (through April 5)

Licensed child care centres

All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery

All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies

Concert venues

The province is still allowing shopping malls, grocery stores, pharmacies, and public transit to remain open for now.

Further, all organized public events of over fifty people are also prohibited, including parades and events and communal services within places of worship.

The orders were approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and will remain in place until March 31, 2020, at which point they will be reassessed and considered for an extension, unless this order is terminated earlier.

Employers can find advice on how to best prepare their workplace and keep their employees and customers healthy from the World Health Organization.

What does this mean for Burlington?

“A number of our local churches, organizations, and businesses voluntarily decided to close their doors ahead of this announcement to do their part,” added Meed Ward. “We applaud them and their choice to proactively put the health of customers and residents first. ”

She continued, “We encourage residents to continue to support our local businesses by shopping online or buying a gift card where possible. This gives our businesses immediate cash flow in a challenging time, while giving you something to look forward to once we can safely gather together again.”

The City of Burlington says it is looking at tax relief options for those that will be impacted. Both the provincial and federal governments have indicated they will be providing support to these businesses and more detail will follow in the days and weeks ahead.

Mayor Meed Ward said that after discussions with the city’s emergency personnel and senior staff, she has escalated their response to a Level 3 Emergency; which allows the municipality to continue to operate under the Corporate Emergency Response Plan and activate its Continuity of Governance and Operations Plan. It ensures that the municipality can continue to allocate resources to critical and essential services.

Monday, the City of Burlington announced the closure or cancellation of a broad list of services, programs and public meetings, including city playgrounds. Essential services including Burlington Fire, Burlington Transit including Handi-Van, Halton Court Services, Traffic Services, Roads, Parks, and Forestry Operations, and Animal Control Services will continue to operate.

Residents can stay updated via the city's dedicated website. Additional information on all COVID-19 related matters can be found at the Halton Region website, the Ministry of Health of Ontario's website, and the Federal Government's website.