SUDBURY -- Mayor Brian Bigger has declared a state of emergency for the City of Greater Sudbury due to COVID-19 on Monday, April 6.

It takes effect immediately and will remain in place through the duration of the provincial state of emergency, currently effective until April 13.

Bigger says the city is still seeing people doing things they shouldn't and receiving complaints about block parties and yard sales.

 

(Mayor's message ends at 5:54, then the video picks up again at 13:53 with Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, medical officer of health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts)

Statement from Mayor Bigger – Declaration of State of Emergency:

"Today and effective immediately, I have declared a State of Emergency for the City of Greater Sudbury that 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. 

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? 

As many of us have been listening to the experts and heeding their advice, the reality is we must work harder. 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. In order to reduce 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.

It is with these concerns that I reached the decision to impose the State of Emergency. This will allow us 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. 

I would like to commend the work that is being done by Public Health, those at HSN and all front-line workers across the city, that are working tirelessly to help our residents. As well, I want to acknowledge the large majority of our residents who are abiding by the rules and following the advice of our experts. Those efforts are proving effective, but we cannot rest or relax during this critical time. With communities from Toronto to Timmins now experiencing community spread of the virus, we need to be extra vigilant if we are to stop the spread of the virus in our community. Only essential travel should take place between communities. No person or community is immune or less vulnerable than the other. 

Let’s work together, keep positive and remain strong. The quicker we all play our part to stop the spread of this virus in our community, the sooner we will be able to return towards the norms we enjoyed just months ago.

We are a strong, resilient and smart community. The decisions we make today, will shape the health and safety of our community in the coming weeks and months. 

With Easter approaching, let’s resolve to spend the holiday with only our immediate family in our own homes. Instead of travelling and visits

- make calls, connect by video. Be innovative, creative and most importantly – be safe.

In the days to follow, further updates will be available as to what changes this new heightened state of emergency may entail. Please follow your local news or the City’s website for updates. 

We can do this, but to succeed we must accept the new normal of behavior for now, sacrifice old habits and work toward healthy outcomes for us all."

Also, tonight on CTV News at 5, Mayor Bigger will talk to Tony Ryma about today's announcement. Watch on TV, stream live on CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca or catch the interview here later.

Watch Tony Ryma's interview with Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger on March 25 about COVID-19's impact on city services and council's virtual meeting.