Unified Emergency Operations Centre Advisory Group Formed in Brant County, Brantford and Six Nations

Tuesday, 24 March 2020 at 11:24

Public Sector agencies in Brant County, Brantford and Six Nations are teaming up for a Unified Emergency Operations Centre Advisory Group.

BRANT COUNTY/BRANTFORD/SIX NATIONS - Public Sector agencies in Brant County, Brantford and Six Nations are teaming up for a Unified Emergency Operations Centre Advisory Group.

You can read the entire release below:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, public sector agencies throughout our region have made swift and significant changes to policies and procedures to ensure the safety of citizens, front line healthcare workers, public sector staff, citizens working to provide essential services, teachers, students and our community volunteers.

To continue to prepare for and respond to the pandemic as effectively as possible, the following agencies are diligently working together and meeting via teleconference every morning to share updated information and mutual aid suggestions, with the primary goal of reducing the risk of community spread of Coronavirus Covid-19 in our region:

- Brant County Health Unit
- Brant Community Healthcare System
- Brant Brantford Paramedics
- The City of Brantford
- The County of Brant
- Six Nations of the Grand River
- Brantford Police Services
- Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
- Grand Erie District School Board
- Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
- Enbridge Gas

Consistent with the province of Ontario’s declaration of an emergency, a majority of the agencies on this working group have also activated their emergency operations centres and incident management systems to provide additional supports, management and heightened coordination with partner agencies to respond to the threat of an outbreak of Covid-19 in Brantford and the surrounding area.

Dr. Elizabeth Urbantke, the Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Brant County Health Unit explains why they are taking this step.

"Formalizing this coordinated approach already ongoing lets Brant residents know we are all in this together. As our organizations come together, we also ask our community to do their part and practice prevention practices like social distancing."

Mayor of Brant County David Bailey says it is important for everyone to work together right now.

"This situation requires the County and all of its important partners to work together. I am confident in this collective leadership. I am so impressed at how quickly partners are acting and how carefully decisions are being made. I want to call on the residents of our community to do your part. Stay home. Practice social distancing if you must go out. Wash your hands well and often. As a community, we will take care of each other."