April 15, 2021

Some government programs and services on hold or canceled, public spaces off limits, for next 48 hours

BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — The Grey Bruce Health Unit has declared a critical threshold of COVID-19 cases in the region. On April 14, the Medical Officer of Health issued a statement asking everyone in Grey and Bruce Counties to consider themselves a carrier of COVID-19 for 48 hours due to a spike of more than 70 new cases in a 36-hour period. Contact tracing and case management capacity has been stretched to its limits and staff are being redeployed from other programs, including vaccine clinics, to support case management.

Dr. Arra has issued a directive, in addition to the provincial stay-at-home order, to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel for the next 48 hours in order to contain the increasing case numbers. Many government services and programs have been put on hold or cancelled. Here is a rundown:

Municipality of Grey Highlands

Municipality of Grey Highlands services will be ON HOLD/CANCELLED for the next 48 hours as per Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra’s directive.

The ONLY services that will continue are Fire Department/Emergency services and critical operations including waste collection and water operations that are completed with no interaction between staff or the public.

The  Administration Offices will remain closed to the public, library curbside pickup is suspended, and landfills are CLOSED until Monday.

Municipality of West Grey

The Municipality of West Grey will be following the directive of the Grey Bruce Health Unit and encourages everyone to stay home, avoid all non-essential travel.

The administration office, recreation facilities, library and landfills will be closed to the public. Curbside garbage collection will continue as per the regular schedule. Staff will be responding to phone and email messages as soon as possible.

Emergency operations continue as usual.

West Grey operations will return to operations under the provincial order, effective Monday, April 19. Please stay safe, stay home and avoid all non-essential travel.

Township of Southgate

Township of Southgate services will be ON HOLD/CANCELLED for the next 48 hours as per Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra’s directive.

The ONLY services that will continue are Fire Department/Emergency services and critical operations including waste collection and water operations that are completed with no interaction between staff or the public.

The Township of Southgate Administration Office will remain closed to the public, the Southgate Ruth Hargrave Memorial Library will be suspending curb-side pick-up services, all Building Department services and inspections are CANCELLED for the duration. Both the Dundalk and Egremont Transfer Stations are CLOSED for Thursday and Saturday operations.

Staff are still working remotely and available for assistance via phone or email.

Township of Chatsworth

All municipal operations have been put on HOLD for the next 48 hours as per Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra's directive, with the exception of emergency services (fire and water).

Both the Sullivan Waste Transfer Station and the Holland/Markdale Landfill Site will be closed on Saturday, April 17th.

Staff are working remotely and are available for assistance via phone or email.

Our priority is to keep both our staff and the public safe.  We are asking everyone to please do their part and stay at home unless absolutely necessary to prevent the further spread of this virus.

County of Grey

Following the recommendations of the Medical Officer of Health, Grey County is closing all public spaces for 48 hours, including all forests properties and trails managed by the County. This decision will help limit the movement of people in the community while Public Health manages contact tracing for the recent surge of local cases. Properties will be closed until Saturday, April 17.

Grey County Warden Selwyn ‘Buck’ Hicks is alarmed by the surge in cases and high number of close contacts. 

“Grey County is echoing Public Health’s plea to the public to stay home while they manage this dangerous spike in COVID-19 cases. I know everyone is feeling tired; I know many of us are frustrated; but right now your community needs you to follow the direction of Public Health and put the needs of your community above your own desires,” said Warden Hicks. “Please, I implore everyone, stay at home. Only leave for essential purposes. If we don’t take this seriously and act now all of our effort and sacrifices from the past year will have been for nothing.”

While all Grey County-owned public spaces are to be considered closed until Saturday, all services will continue to be offered remotely through www.Grey.ca or by calling 1‑800‑567‑4739.

 

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