Brampton declares state of emergency due to coronavirus pandemic

Yorkregion.com
March 25, 2020
Graeme Frisque

The City of Brampton has declared a state of emergency as a result of the ongoing spread of the COVID-19 virus across Peel Region.

The announcement on Tuesday, March 24 comes a little over two months after the city of more than 650,000 residents already declared a health care emergency due to serious overcrowding at Brampton’s only full hospital and Urgent Care Centre.

“Today’s declaration supports the City’s ongoing emergency response efforts by allowing more flexibility and speed as we take action to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. We are taking the necessary steps to protect our community and the City will spare no measure in doing so. We all have a responsibility in this, so at this time please stay home. We will get through this together as a City,” said Mayor Patrick Brown in a city release.

An emergency declaration under the Ontario Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act gives government bodies extra powers to, among many other measures, close private businesses or spaces, establish emergency shelters and health-care facilities and restrict the movement of citizens.

Neighbouring Mississauga and Toronto declared states of emergency in those cities on Monday, March 23.

“This is a significant step in supporting the Province of Ontario’s and Region of Peel’s efforts to help contain the spread of COVID-19,” read the release.

Peel Region confirmed 18 more cases, bringing the total number across the region up to 56 as of 10 a.m. on March 24. There have been 19 cases confirmed in Brampton, 32 in Mississauga, three in Caledon and another two with details still pending. Provincially, cases grew to 573 as of the same day, including seven deaths.

The escalating outbreak has the mayor and council worried, with the city already declaring a health care emergency amid critical overcrowding at Brampton Civic Hospital and the Urgent Care Centre at the still-unfinished Peel Memorial site --before the global coronavirus pandemic found its way to Brampton and Peel Region.

“The negative is we don’t have the respirators and ventilators that we require for a crisis like this. You can never imagine needing this much health-care capacity. Obviously, we already have diminished capacity in Brampton, but unfortunately this crisis is going to put strain across the board,” said Brown on March 21.

Visit www.brampton.ca for more information and steps the city has taken so far as officials attempt to stem the spread of the pandemic.