C-K issues details following Ontario’s COVID-19 emergency declaration

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has issued some further details about the declaration of a provincial emergency and the updated public health restrictions.

Municipal officials say effective tomorrow, Thursday January 14, 2021, the Province has introduced further public health restrictions, including:

– A stay-at-home order requiring everyone to remain at home with exceptions for permitted purposes or activities, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for work where the work cannot be done remotely.

– Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people with limited exceptions.

– Individuals are required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can’t physically distance more than two metres.

– All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.

– Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.

Further information can be found, here.

Enforcement

Municipal officials say Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officers and Chatham-Kent Police will be stepping up investigations and enforcement to ensure that these new measures are being followed.

“The Province has added further enforcement tools for this purpose which may be used in the event that people are found breaching the Provincial public health restrictions,” Municipal officials said in a press release issued on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.

“Chatham-Kent residents who have concerns about violations of Provincial orders can report their concerns via phone or email.”

To report a concern, individuals can call 311 or email COVID19Enforcement@chatham-kent.ca

Changes to Municipal Services

As a result of these changes, Municipal Centres will temporarily close in the following communities: Blenheim, Ridgetown, Tilbury and Wallaceburg.

Municipal Information Desks remain closed in the following communities: Bothwell, Thamesville and Wheatley.

“The Chatham Civic Centre, the Chatham Grand Avenue Service Ontario office and the Dresden Municipal/Service Ontario office which will remain open by appointment only and for essential services,” Municipal officials say.

“It is important that citizens call the Municipality at 311 or email at ck311@chatham-kent.ca before visiting these offices to ensure the service they require is deemed essential. All visitors will be required to complete a screening assessment before entering these facilities.”

Services provided by Community Human Services at the Health and Family Services Building on Grand Ave., Chatham, and the Clinic Services Building on King St. W., Chatham will continue throughout the extended lockdown, Municipal officials added.

“All facilities previously closed by the municipality following the province-wide shutdown in December remain closed,” Municipal officials say.

For questions regarding municipal services or facilities, contact the municipality by calling 311 or emailing ck311@chatham-kent.ca.

“The Municipality urges all Chatham-Kent residents to closely follow these all public health restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and avoid an overwhelming of the already strained health system,” Municipal officials added.

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