The city could turn municipal buildings into makeshift facilities to house the sick and the dead in “a worst-case scenario” if the COVID-19 pandemic spirals out of control.
City councillors learned that and much more during a question-and-answer session with the group that, essentially, has taken the municipality's controls since Mayor Steve Clarke declared a state of emergency last Friday night.
By virtue of that declaration, the emergency management committee is now in charge of making any pandemic-related decisions.
That committee is headed up by fire chief Brent Thomas and includes Clarke, CAO Gayle Jackson and Jennifer Ruff, the city’s director of business development and communications.
The four-member group has been meeting “constantly” since the declaration. They also meet at least daily with “emergency group primaries” that include the city’s various department heads.
At least once a week, they also join the other members of the emergency control group, which includes senior officials from the Orillia OPP, Orillia’s Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) and Orillia Power.
Thursday’s meeting, while closed to the public, was meant to keep city politicians - and the public - in the loop. The meeting at city hall, live-streamed on Rogers, was attended, in person, by Clarke and Ruff in addition to Councillors David Campbell, Ralph Cipolla and Ted Emond.
Jackson, Thomas and Councillors Jay Fallis, Mason Ainsworth, Tim Lauer, Rob Kloostra and Pat Hehn joined the meeting by video-conference.
Thomas, in a brief update, reminded councillors they still have responsibility for “normal” civic business.
“The emergency management committee and emergency control group are making decisions for just the emergency,” said Thomas. “There are still the decisions and the regular business of the city that will go through the normal process.”
Thomas said the committee is “taking all your advice and questions and suggestions as we go through the decision-making process and moving forward and coming up with the decisions and the communication plan because of” those decisions.
Coun. Cipolla asked about a contingency plan if “God forbid, an emergency morgue is required,” noting the plan was to use the new Orillia Recreation Centre in the event of a natural disaster.
“We do have that contingency laid out,” said Thomas, who did not provide specifics. “We actually had some conversations with (Carmine Stumpo), the CEO of OSMH and we do have that within our plan.”
He said there is a plan “for an off-site facility should we need to house people and also, the worst-case scenario, a place to house those who have passed away.”
Coun. Lauer noted other jurisdictions have moved to a full lock-down in an effort to stop the spread of the virus and he wondered how Orillia might police such a scenario if it comes to that.
Thomas said there have been multiple conversations with Orillia OPP Insp. Veronica Eaton and Sgt. Rusty Wilson about such issues.
“They would have to redeploy some resources if we got to that point,” said the fire chief. “That is certainly something they are considering, but currently they don’t have the resources to do that.”
He said he has sought clarity to determine if the city’s municipal bylaw enforcement officers could be used in such a scenario.
“That’s something we’re asking about,” said Thomas.
The mayor said he has spoken to Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop about the scenario. Based on that conversation, it is likely the city could “deputize” municipal bylaw officers “to help supplement enforcement should we get into a lockdown.”
At several points during the meeting, Clarke hinted a lockdown could occur and could be initiated by either the federal, provincial or municipal government.
“This crisis is not going to get better for a while, it’s going to get worse,” warned Clarke. “The restrictions will get tighter and tighter."
And that is why the Perch Festival should be cancelled, suggested Cipolla, who is one of the founders of the popular event.
Clarke said discussions have been had with the Chamber of Commerce, which operates the event. A decision could come as early as Friday.
Cipolla also wondered if city transit should be shut down. He said he saw groups congregating at bus stops and is worried people aren’t taking physical distancing seriously.
Jackson said she would have staff look into it and speak to the private company that operates the buses. It was generally felt the transit service was essential for many people.
Jackson noted city staff are mostly working from home. However there are a couple of people - ensuring physical distance - remaining, “for now,” in each department to field calls and inquiries.
A sign task force has also been created that is being asked to ensure there is adequate signage throughout the city to alert people to new rules they must follow to help stop the spread of the virus.
Jackson said staff, on a rotating basis, are checking in daily on all city facilities, parks and buildings to ensure everything is safe and rules are being followed.
She noted the city has “wide open” channels of communication with OSMH to ensure they are doing what they can to support the hospital.
“Before this meeting, the emergency management committee had a lengthy conversation with the CEO of the hospital. It was a very educational discussion,” said Jackson.
The discussion included the “sort of next steps in terms of preparing for what potentially the future may look like in terms of maybe using municipal facilities,” she said. “We are in constant contact with the hospital to make sure if there’s anything further we can do as a city to assist, we fully understand that.”
On Thursday, it was learned an Orillia woman in her 70s had died as a result of COVID-19; it’s the third death in the Simcoe Muskoka region. There have now been 16 deaths to date in Ontario and health officials warn it’s going to get far worse before it gets better.
