Mauro sees stay at home order as response to ‘grave concerns’ about COVID-19 cases
The second declaration of a state of emergency and the stay at home order issued by the provincial government is in response to what Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro sees as a grave concern about the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario and while Thunder Bay is fairing better than other parts of the province, that can change quickly.
“What you are hearing is the concern for the numbers growing,” Mauro said. “You see the projections. That’s a provincial number, primarily in southern Ontario, but we know that can change quickly.”
On Tuesday, Premier Doug Ford announced the province is declaring a second state of emergency for the next 28 days and implementing a stay at home order, asking people only go out for essential purposes like purchasing groceries or medical appointments.
The province is already in a state of lockdown, which was extended in the north last weekend for another 14 days.
“I don’t know really how much difference there is in there,” Mauro said. “But certainly I heard grave concern about the numbers. I heard grave concern about the variant that is there and how infectious that is and the connection to hospital capacity. That was the big message that came out for me.”
The Thunder Bay District is fairing much better than parts of Southern Ontario. On Tuesday, only one new case was reported and the number of active cases is now down to 68.
Mauro said the province has strayed from its own script when it instituted a province-wide lockdown rather than taking a regional approach through its COVID-19 response framework.
“We were in a colour coded situation before the lockdown and that was a regional approach or a district health unit approach based on the numbers you had. They have now gone away from that,” he said.
If the numbers continue to decline in the district and the lockdown remains in effect throughout the 28-day state of emergency, Mauro said he will look at advocating to the provincial government about easing some restrictions in the region.
“There would be a point at which, I won’t speculate at what that number will be, up until November we were in single digit daily cases, so there could potentially be a point where I would consider that,” he said.
The new public health measures announced by the province on Tuesday also include increased enforcement by law enforcement and bylaw enforcement officers to ensure people are following the guidelines.
Mauro said this is an issue he has raised before with public health officials and if people do not take the new measures seriously, it might be something the city has to take into consideration.
“We have to potentially at some point consider the enforcement as a tool whether we want to or not,” he said.
“We heard a lot of that from the Premier today. We may find ourselves in a situation where that unfortunately might have to become a tool to be used more if people don’t following the dictates of the province and the public health unit.”
But Mauro believes most people are already following the guidelines in public and know the seriousness of the situation and how quickly it can change.
“I do believe people have taken it seriously and we are doing the best we can,” he said. “When we saw the spikes, it was related to two or three specific instances, unfortunately in congregate settings that could spread very quickly.” – tbnewswatch
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Sooo now its a 24 hours a day month long curfew? Seriously?
Our mayor understands that without the financial support of Queens Park, this city would go bankrupt soo whatever Dougie says is OK with Bill. Gets his full support.
Collective punishment. If you can’t punish the guilty then punish everyone. Make life miserable for everyone . People will then inform (rat) on their neighbours. Its an age old method of controlling a population.
“If you can’t punish the guilty then punish everyone. Make life miserable for everyone . People will then inform on their neighbors.” You said it, the GUILTY! They are to blame and need to be punished for it by the innocent. That’s how life works, good over evil. Fine them blind!!
and if they don’t exist? or if they do exist and their impact on the spread of the virus has been exaggerated? Then what? Its time people start to look out for their own protection. Take responsibility for their own health and safety and stop blaming others. The only person you can control is yourself.
WOW!!! So fuck everybody else? Canada will die then….We are a community… …the good of the many…out weighs the good of the one… you are SO wrong man….
Go drop some more LSD; I’ll keep taking zinc, vitamins c & D. My ancestors didn’t fight in 2 world wars to have our freedoms taken away by fascists now.
I believe you are the one that wants a police state. Calling for martial law. Not me.
HA your freedoms are far from taken away, read a history book…you ain’t seen NOTHING!
“Bill”, I have read a lot of history (and unlike you) I can see where this fascism is leading presently. Freedoms are not being taken away, “Bill”? Really? Tell that narrative to anyone who attends a church or other place of worship at the moment. My rights to freedom of worship supposedly guaranteed under our “Charter of Rights and Freedoms” are being arbitrarily stomped upon by these fascist buffoons all across Canada, with no compelling reason whatsoever. We shall see what kind of “freedoms” exist once these rights are challenged to the SCC, which a number of lawsuits are heading towards. If the SCC goes along with this nonsense – I certainly pray this will not happen – then it’s time to put on the Yellow Stars of David. However, I am ultimately confident God will not allow this fascism – because the last time I looked, Bill, no one voted for churches to be locked down for no valid reason – to continue unabated; He has throughout the Scriptures and subsequent history preserved His children over time and those who feel they are able to suppress God’s people will be, of coursed, judged accordingly. (Revelation 20: 12-15)