Barrie and the Township of Oro Medonte have declared States of Emergency.
Oro Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes says the declaration isn’t done to incite panic, but says it allows the Township to dedicate resources and be in a better position to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 virus.
In Barrie, Mayor Jeff Lehman says the time is now to ensure that the entire city and its combined resources are focused on flattening the curve.
Lehman adds that community transmittal of COVID-19 is now present in the community and has reached, as the Medical Officer of Health has described, “a critical juncture” in the progression of COVID-19.