Mayor Iain Lovatt has declared a state of emergency in Whitchurch-Stouffville in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This declaration follows the Ontario government’s announcement last week and the Region of York’s declaration yesterday at the advice of the York Region Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Karim Kurji.

"It is critical that we, as a community, play a role in helping stop the spread of COVID-19," Lovatt said. "Declaring a state of emergency is not to incite panic, but to make people aware that they have a large role to play in stopping it in its tracks."

The declaration allows the town to implement its emergency plan and grants it the power to protect volunteer emergency workers. The town activated a partial emergency operations centre last week and conducts daily meetings to assess the ever-changing COVID-19 situation.

"We need to listen to our public health officials and practice physical distancing in order to limit its spread," Lovatt said. "I want to insure residents and businesses that you can have confidence that we are doing everything that we can to stop its spread in Whitchurch-Stouffville and throughout Canada, but we need your help."

"The health and safety of Whitchurch-Stouffville’s citizens has always been our top priority and will continue to be so," Lovatt said.

For more information about COVID-19 in Whitchurch-Stouffville, including impacts on facilities, bylaws and service deliveries, please visit townofws.ca/COVID19.

For information from York Region Public Health about the virus, please visit york.ca/COVID19.