Region of Waterloo Board of Health requesting further support from governments to tackle community spread of COVID-19

Waterloo Region - At the December 2, 2020 Board of Health meeting, Regional Council unanimously passed a motion requesting further assistance from the provincialand federal governments to assist Region of Waterloo Public Health in dealing with increased demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Under the guidance of Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Council has requested an increase in skilled case and contract tracers as well as continued support for enforcement personnel from the provincial multi-ministry team, specifically Ministry of Labour officers. 

Regional Council is asking for these supports be provided to Waterloo Region equitably and proportionate to the support provided to other Regions across the province who are currently within the red or grey lockdown levels of the provincial framework.   

“I spoke directly with Premier Ford this morning to discuss the situation here in Waterloo Region and requested additional support from the provincial government,” said Karen Redman, Chair of Waterloo Region. “We appreciate the enhanced enforcement the last couple of weeks but our case rates are growing and we are seeing increased spread in our community, as well as outbreaks especially in work place settings. We can’t do this alone, and I appreciate the Province as a partner.” 

“As we have only been in the Control - Red level for a little over a week, our request for support is urgent and timely to help us slow the spread,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Medical Officer of Health, Region of Waterloo. “Additional case and contact and enforcement personnel will allow us to be more successful under the current restrictions and ideally slow the spread to avoid a future lockdown.”

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For media enquiries, please contact:

TJ Flynn, Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Region of Waterloo, tjflynn@regionofwaterloo.ca