The City of Barrie is marking the one year anniversary since the state of emergency was declared there.
On March 23rd, 2020, Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman declared a state of emergency in the City.
The order, which still remains in effect today, gives the City with additional powers and resources to protect the health and safety of Barrie residents and streamlines the decision-making process through the City’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
“This past year has been a challenge, but we’ve also learned so much,” says Mayor Lehman. “We’ve seen just how resilient and strong our community is, as we make our way through these uncertain times. I can’t thank the residents of Barrie enough for their efforts to stop the spread. And thank you to all our brave frontline workers and our incredible community partners for your unwavering commitment to supporting our community. As vaccinations ramp up, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Stay strong, Barrie.”
The City’s EOC was implemented on March 12th. This group of leaders from the City, Barrie Police, Royal Victoria Hospital, and the Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit meet regularly to make critical decisions to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and react quickly to changing public health regulations. In the last year, they have met 104 times.
“This past year our staff have shown resiliency, adaptability and resourcefulness every step of the way,” says Michael Prowse, CAO. “It’s not been an easy year, but I’m proud of our staff’s unwavering commitment to our community.”
The City urges Barrie residents to continue to follow the latest advice from Public Health to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
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