100% compost
519-584-4755
A natural soil enhancement for lawns
webstoneprosoils.ca Vol at 23the | Issue 30 Farmers Market See us Elmira
LIVING HERE
Band makes early release of music to give people a lift People. Places. Pictures. Profiles. Perspectives.
PAGE 20
FRI.
SAT.
SUN.
110
30
70
110
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.
70
100
VOLUME 25 | ISSUE
13
MARCH 26, 2020
A message from the publisher We are all in this together, and together we must all play our part in the recovery
C
Woolwich Township posted warning signs after closing parks and playgrounds in response to the COVID-19 situation. See story page 04.
[JOE MERLIHAN]
Municipalities declare state of emergency over COVID-19
Region and lower-tier governments gain new powers in fight to curb the pandemic BY STEVE KANNON
skannon@woolwichobserver.com
The spread of the coronavirus into the wider community prompted regional and municipal councils to jointly declare a state of emergency Wednesday morning.
The number of Waterloo Region residents afflicted with COVID-19 – confirmed and presumptive – stood at 58 at that point, up from 15 on the weekend. Where initial cases involved those recently returned from travelling, followed by those with close
contact to those diagnosed with the virus, there are growing numbers of transmissions simply from the community in general. “Residents should act as though COCVID-19 is circulating in the community and the region,” advised Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region’s
acting medical officer of health, in a teleconference briefing Wednesday morning. Of the 58 cases, 25 have been confirmed positive, with 33 presumptive. Thus far, all cases initially classified as presumptive have EMERGENCY RESPONSE | 07
learly, these are challenging times for all of us. Our world is more interconnected than ever, making facing a pandemic like COVID-19 unprecedented in human history. First and foremost, our task is to avoid overwhelming the health care system by minimizing the number of cases that require intensive intervention. We will accomplish this by physically distancing ourselves and taking measures, such as washing our hands thoroughly, to protect ourselves and others. Still, we must also maintain community and social cohesion in the midst of this physical distancing. There will be hardship beyond the obvious health care crisis. Small businesses will suffer and individuals will lose their jobs. These things are already happening. Churches cannot be the centres of community that they have been, and many will miss that social and spiritual time each week. The effects will also be felt by service clubs and charitable organizations, who may see their contributions decrease and their ability to
help others suffer. The way we conduct ourselves during this time as individuals, businesses and institutions will affect how we are viewed in the future. We have an instinct for self-preservation such that fear and uncertainty can bring out the worst in us. There will be a time when life regains a sense of normalcy, but it will not be the same for everyone, and normal will not return for all of us. While we know that we’re all in this together, that can be something of a cold comfort when the future holds such uncertainty for many of us individually. However, residents of Woolwich and Wellesley townships have always supported each other, and will continue to do so now. Spend money, if you can, with your local businesses. Support your local charities so that the most vulnerable community members can get help. If what you have to give right now is time, use your time to shop for elderly neighbours, and check in with friends and family. Even just saying hello from a distance can help. If you need help, seek PUBLISHER MESSAGE | 11