Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke is urging local citizens to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19, by heeding the province's stay-at-home order
"The message is very clear: stay home, save lives," the mayor said in a video address to the community.
Clarke noted that from March to November of 2020, there were just 35 positive cases of COVID-19 in Orillia. Now, the total has skyrocketed to 117, with 21 new cases reported by the region's health unit since Jan. 1.
It's a trend playing out across Ontario.
"During the first two weeks of January, cases have doubled in Ontario," lamented the mayor, adding there are now more than 400 patients in ICU beds in the province with estimates warning that number could rise to 1,000 by early next month.
"If we don't stay home, we run the danger of overwhelming our health-care system which would create even more ... problems," warned Clarke.
As a result of those numbers and the province's second declaration of a state of emergency, the city has had to re-think some of its plans.
"We have stopped the process of preparing outdoor rinks and I can tell you this was not an easy decision to make," he said of the "very popular outdoor amenities."
He noted it's difficult to ensure people are heeding physical distancing measures on a rink. Despite that, for now, parks and toboggan hills remain open, but city staff will be "closely" monitoring such facilities this weekend.
It's not all bad. The "city is putting resources toward maintaining additional kilometres of trails not normally cleared," said the mayor. He said the goal is to provide "more opportunity to residents of all ages and fitness levels to remain active and help minimize crowding."
Clarke said he understands people are tired and concedes the prolonged measures are "taking their toll," but he urged people not to let their guard down.
He also said there's "hope on the horizon" in the form of the vaccine, which has begun to be administered to priority groups in Orillia.
Click on the link above to view the video message.
