The City of Richmond Hill declared a state of local emergency March 20 as the number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 jumped to 31 in York Region.

The decision came just one day after Mayor Dave Barrow released an open letter to residents, urging everyone to the community work together to think about others.

There have been seven confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Richmond Hill as of Mar. 20, according York Region Public Health.

The declaration of the state of emergency provides the city more flexibility to take local action to maintain essential services and address the emergency situation, the news release says.

"Make no mistake — COVID-19 is a serious issue," it reads. "Everyone needs to do their part, to take care of themselves and think about others. Together, we will get through this."

The city has fully activated its emergency operations centre and ensured essential city services continue to be delivered, including fire and emergency services, roads maintenance, providing clean drinking water, and waste collection, including large appliance collection.

The garbage limit has been increased from three items to six during this time, since garbage tags are not available for purchase while city’s facilities remain closed.

Recognizing the impact of the evolving coronavirus situation, Richmond Hill has also developed resources to help local businesses navigate the challenges during and after the pandemic, including waiving interest for late payment of property taxes, offering after-hour deliveries, and providing online seminars.

The Richmond Hill Economic Development team can be reached at 905-771-5483.

The Access Richmond Hill Contact Centre is available to respond to general inquiries by email at access@richmondhill.ca or by phone at 905-771-8800 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).