The Warden extended condolences to the family of John Jacobs, as well to Leamington Council for their sudden loss.
Warden McNamara welcomed the members of County Council, Administration and members of the public and delivered the following greeting:
I would like to begin by expressing my condolences to the family and friends of those who have died from COVID-19. We lost a Windsor and Essex County resident earlier this week, bringing to 77 the number of local people killed by this terrible virus.
We knew all along the cooler temperatures of Autumn might well coincide with a second wave of COVID-19 and, unfortunately, our worst fears have come true. Cases are surging here and across the province and country. There are more than 190 active cases in the region and five outbreaks. Our daily case counts can now be measured in double digits. The risk of exponential growth is very real unless we all take concerted action to slow the spread and keep our community safe.
We need to act resolutely and without delay, as individuals and as a region, to keep COVID-19 from overwhelming our healthcare system and further infiltrating our long-term care homes, where it could have a devastating impact on our most vulnerable residents. We need to protect ourselves and each other.
Earlier today, I joined Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and my fellow County mayors in calling on Windsor-Essex residents to urgently respond to these rising case counts by zealously adhering to health guidelines and physical distancing protocols. I know it won’t be easy but I know it can be done and I know Windsor-Essex residents are up for the challenge.
It’s difficult to remember the fear and uncertainty that gripped us all when this pandemic began, but we need to recall how we felt and how we reacted. The situation is just as grim now as it was then and it is poised to get worse before it gets better. We locked our economy down in the spring, we declared a state of emergency, we worked remotely, we limited our contacts, we washed our hands, we stayed home when we were sick and we flattened the curve. Now, we have to do it again. Each and every one of us.
The difference, the key and crucial difference, between now and the spring is that we know much more about COVID-19 and how it spreads and what actions we can take as individuals to slow that spread. The province has also taken steps to secure sectors where the virus is likely to spread. The Ontario government in partnership with agri-business announced this week a comprehensive strategy to protect agricultural workers and the province’s food supply chain. This three-pillared strategy will work to keep our farms in business and our workers and our communities safe. It is a welcome development.
I know we are all suffering from pandemic fatigue. I know we miss gathering with family and friends. I know the warnings are getting tired and stale, but cases are surging and we need to react accordingly. It’s not too late. We can make a difference. We need to buckle down and beat back this terrible virus by making smart, selfless choices.