County of Essex Declares State of Emergency

Essex County, ON – The County of Essex declared a State of Emergency today, taking proactive and precautionary measures to prepare the region for the COVID-19 pandemic. The Warden of Essex County, Gary McNamara, said the local municipalities are aiming to take protective measures as the threat of the virus grows.  

“We are in the early stages of this pandemic and based on the evidence we have seen from a global, national, provincial and local level, we believe the time to call the emergency is now. Our efforts in taking the appropriate preventive measures today is the best course of action for our region,” said McNamara.

The Warden is urging residents to take this situation very seriously and to heed the advice of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit as it relates to social-distancing, proper hand washing and sanitizing as well as the 14-day self-isolation for returning travelers.

“Let’s act now to protect our health care workers on the front line by taking the necessary steps to flatten the curve and mitigate the impact on our health care system,” said McNamara.

Declaring the State of Emergency allows for municipalities to prepare by limiting activities to essential services. It ensures they have the flexibility to mobilize appropriate resources as needs arise, not only for COVID-19, but for other possible issues such as lake flooding, as water levels locally remain at record highs.

“We want the public to remain calm and to know that we are doing all we can to protect residents. We need them to consider the seriousness of the situation. Stay home, stay safe and stay informed,” said McNamara.