The Grey Bruce Health Unit has declared a critical threshold of COVID-19 cases in the region. Dr. Arra has issued a directive, in addition to the provincial stay-at-home order, to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel for the next 48 hours in order to contain the increasing case numbers.

Owen Sound
City Hall remains closed to the public and any employee with the ability to work from home is required to do so.
Effective Thursday, April 15 at noon until Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. only critical operations and essential work will take place.

Emergency Services
· Owen Sound Police Services and Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services provided to residents are not impacted.
· The police station will remain open for emergencies and where persons are required to report to the station pursuant to a court order. For all other reasons, please call ahead before visiting. Residents of Owen Sound requiring criminal record checks are encouraged to use the portal on the police services website.

Finance & Building Services
Online payment services remain available for tax and utility payments.
Only critical and essential building inspections will be provided with limited interaction between staff and the public.

Culture/Recreation/Parks
Parks staff will be limited over the five days with no interaction between staff and the public.
Parks and trails remain open; however, all public washrooms are closed and the use of recreational amenities such as playground equipment is strongly discouraged as it encourages gathering and contact with members of people outside your home.
Curbside pick-up at the North Grey Union Public Library has been suspended until April 20.
The Owen Sound Farmers’ Market will be closed this Saturday, April 17. Online store hours have been extended until noon Friday for curbside pickup on Saturday.

Public Works
Water, Wastewater, and Waste Management services will continue with limited staffing levels during the five days.
Transit Services are unaffected by the announcement. The 10-passenger limit remains. Riders must always wear a face covering (mask) while riding.

West Grey
The Municipality of West Grey will be following the directive of the Grey Bruce Health Unit and encourages everyone to stay home, avoid all nonessential travel. The administration office, recreation facilities, library and landfills will be closed to the public. Curbside garbage collection will continue as per the regular schedule. Staff will be responding to phone and email messages as soon as possible. Emergency operations continue as usual. West Grey operations will return to operations under the provincial order, effective Monday, April 19.

Meaford
The Meaford Public Library will be suspending curbside pick-up, computer and photocopying services until Monday, April 19. Only online library services will be available during this time.
The opening of the Leaf and Yard Waste Depot at 157859 7th Line has been postponed. More information will be provided next week following further directions from the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
The Household Hazardous Waste Day originally scheduled for Saturday April 17, 2021, has been cancelled. The next Household Hazardous Waste Day Event is scheduled for Saturday May 15, 2021.
For more information on COVID-19 impacts on Municipal service, please visit http://www.meaford.ca/openandclosed.

Please stay safe, stay home and avoid all non-essential travel.

For more information on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit Ontario.ca/COVID-19 or the Grey Bruce Health Unit.

source: media releases