Council Connection: 1 year later, Georgina residents must stay resilient

Even with the lifting of the stay-at-home order, it's still the best way to protect yourself, writes Mayor Margaret Quirk

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 26, 2021

Last week, we moved into the Red-Control zone of the provincial framework. This is the beginning of a gradual reopening of our local economy and businesses.

However, this comes with responsibility for everyone to be cautious and to use common sense in your activities and movement over the coming weeks. Limit your trips out only for essential purposes, (work, grocery and required shopping, medical appointments, exercise).

The province is slowly moving us into their framework and we all need to be mindful that what we all do (or don't do) is critical to keep our case counts low.

The advice from the province and our York Region Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Karim Kurji, is to avoid social gatherings, limit close contacts to your household only, stay home as much as possible, work from home if possible and avoid travel except for essential purposes.

The Red-Control zone also advises that families should not visit any other household or allow visitors in their homes. People who live alone can gather with one household.

Even with the lifting of the stay-at-home order, staying home is still the best way to protect yourself and others.

It has almost been a year since the worldwide pandemic was declared, with March 19 marking the one-year anniversary of the Town of Georgina issuing a Declaration of Emergency. Our EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) continues to meet regularly to deal with the issues that continue to evolve.

We all know what we should do; wash your hands often, wear a mask where required and maintain physical distancing and stay home if not feeling well.

I know it can be confusing at times as the rules and guidelines change as we move into the framework, but the basic message is the same, “stay home as much as possible”.

Margaret Quirk is the mayor of Georgina.