Greater Sudbury declares state of emergency in coronavirus pandemic

Sudbury mayor Brian Bigger says the city is declaring a state of emergency, which will be in place for the duration of the provincial state of emergency.

"I have reached this decision after careful consideration and conversations with the Medical Officer of Health, my fellow members of council and other local leaders across Greater Sudbury," he said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

"This is truly an unprecedented situation and I am using everything in my power to protect the citizens of Greater Sudbury. This includes our most vulnerable citizens, our seniors and the homeless. We must also protect the hard-working essential services and health care workers who are at risk every day and working to support all of us. If they get sick, how will they serve and protect us?"

Several other communities in northern Ontario have already declared states of emergency since the coronavirus pandemic began, including Timmins and ElliotLake.

'We cannot rest or relax'

"We are still seeing people doing things they shouldn't be grocery stores are too full and we are receiving complaints about block parties and yard sales," Bigger said.

"Toreduce the potential for increased infections and fatalities we must stay home. Plan essential trips outside our homes. Plan to shop once a week and shop alone. We must continue to always be aware of and practice physical distancing. Do not leave our homes unless absolutely necessary. We need to take this threat seriously."

Bigger says that with a state of emergency in place, itwill allow officials "to enforce and amend bylaws more effectively, as well as protect volunteers, insuring them under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board in the event we are required to call out for help and enlist those willing and able to assist."

One of the city's first acts under the state of emergency was to address the needs of the homeless population.

Bigger said the city had received more than $320,000 fro the federal government to help out vulnerable people with accomodations.

He says the city is using the money to enter into an agreement with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Autumnwood Mature Lifestyle Communities to rent the Canada's Best Value Inn on Regent Street for the next three months.

The CMHAwill move the Off the Street Emergency Shelter program out of 200 Larch Street and into the first floor of the hotel. Users will have access to washrooms, showers and beds that allow for physical distancing. CHMA staff will be there for support.

A supportive isolation shelter will be set up on the second floor offering 24-hour care to peoplewho are homeless and being tested for or diagnosed with COVID-19.

The city says in a statement, it expects the new arrangements to be in place by April 15th.

The federal government is giving the city an additional $320,575 to bump up the current Reaching Home funding program.

As of 8 p.m. Monday, there were 26 confirmed cases in Sudbury and Districts.

Sudbury's medical officer of health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffewarnsa surge in cases could come at any time, and quickly.

Non-medical masks now encouraged

"Those projections are daunting, and how they evolve, the numbers of cases really is in our own hands," she said. "I want to thank everybody in our area for all of the sacrifices that are making, that you are staying home, that you are washing your hands, that you are keeping physical distance of two metres when it is that you have to go out for essential reasons."

And she also provided some updated guidance on the wearing of non-medical masks, which has not, until now, been encouraged.

Dr. Sutcliffe says emerging scientific advice at the federal level indicates people may spread the virus before they have symptoms and even if they don't have symptoms at all. In thesecases, she says, a mask can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"But when it is essential that we go out, and inparticular if we're going to places where we can't maintain the two metresthat non-medical masks be worn to protect others from ourselves," said Dr. Sutcliffe.

HSN update

The president and CEO of Health Sciences North said as of 1 p.m. Monday, four patients at the hospital were confirmed to have COVID-19 with one of them being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

Dominic Giroux said72 employees and medical staff have been tested for the virus. 55 had negativelab test results and 17 results are pending.

"We believe we're as ready as we can be for the upcoming surge of patients," said Giroux. "We're essentially at 66 percent occupancy. We have no patient admitted in the emergency department waiting for a bed."

Plans to transfer alternate level of care patients to bedrooms at the downtown Clarion Hotel were in progress Monday.

Both Giroux and Sutcliffe says they support the mayor's declaration to declare a state of emergency.