The Municipality of Wawa's declared a state of emergency amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Made earlier this afternoon, the declaration follows similar moves made by the Ontario government - which is extending its state of emergency by two weeks - and several Northern communities - including White River and Manitouwadge - intended to give the Municipality more flexibility for reassigning its workforce to maintain essential services and support local organizations, though it's also seen as a way to send a strong message for residents to strictly adhere to public health guidelines for physical distancing and self-isolation - particularly the need for those who've travelled out of country to self-isolate for fourteen days upon returning, per the federal Quarantine Act.
This comes as Wawa Municipal Council's set to hold a special meeting "for the purpose of permitting electronic meetings of Council during [the] COVID-19 pandemic".
The meeting will be held electronically - residents can email comments about agenda matters to Clerk Cathy Cyr by 4:30 today, so they can be provided to Council and noted in the public record as public information, and the public can join tonight's conference call - but only on mute - with a recording of the meeting to be posted on the municipal website.
The meeting begins at 6 o'clock tonight.
Chapleau Town Council has cancelled a meeting scheduled for tonight - an update on the Township's website says all Council meetings are postponed until further notice, while many offices are closed to the public, though staff can be contacted by phone or email.
The last meeting of Chapleau Council was February 24th.