As you would expect, I have had many meetings and teleconferences this past week with Village and UCLG Staff, members of council, Mayors, Dr Paula Stewart – the Medical Officer of Health for Leeds, Grenville & Lanark, MPPs and other service providers to our municipality.With the quickly evolving information about COVID-19, it is important to communicate with others who are also putting together strategies to slow down the spread of the virus and keep people healthy.
Currently, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in the Village and an Emergency has not been declared.
Today, some changes occurred at Town Hall that I want to brief you on.We employ two staff in the office, other than the CAO.One of our staff has had to self-isolate for fourteen days having just returned from a vacation outside of Canada.Our casual employee is not available to fill all of the shifts for the next ten days.Beginning Wednesday and until March 30, Town Hall will be open weekdays from 8:30 to 1:30 p.m.We apologize if this creates any challenges.
The Community Centre (arena) was shut down on Sunday for the rest of the ice season.Discussions are underway for closing the Library,suspending Committees of Council meetings and other strategies to limit people gathering and/or ensuring that adequate social distancing can occur.
Each municipality is required to have an Emergency Control Group (ECG) as part of its Emergency Management Plan. The ECG is meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) morning and I will have further information for you tomorrow. You can call or email me anytime if you have questions or concerns. 613-273-9195 rjones@villageofwestport.ca
The rapid developments concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to take all reasonable measures to help contain the spread of the virus have led us to take the decision to cancel the March breakfast.
“Everyone needs to do their part to flatten the curve,” is the phrase used by health officials across the country, urging people to do what they can to slow the spread of disease and thus lower the burden on the health-care system.
You can still “have your say” regarding the Village Strategic Plan. The survey will remain on our web site home page for another couple of weeks.
Please take care of yourselves and stay tuned to the best sources of information about CVOID-19 – the provincialgovernment and federal government websites. There you will find information on how best to protect yourself and others, travel advisories and facts about the virus.
We all have our own part to play in protecting ourselves, or colleagues, and our friends and families
I have been asked these questions many times in the past couple of weeks. As leading scientists world-wide work collaboratively to develop treatment and a vaccine, we all can have a role in preventing the spread of coronavirus. The Leeds, Grenville & Lanark Board of Health is the best source for information regarding who is most at risk, the spread of the virus and methods of prevention.
Robin, The Mayor 
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