Head of Bluewater Health says move was necessary

If you need to talk to someone at your local municipal offices, it will have to be by phone.

Municipalities across Lambton have closed municipal offices to the public as part of the province-wide shutdown.

During the first lockdown in March, municipalities closed their doors to the public, doing most of their business online and by phone. The Town of Petrolia closed the doors at town hall and the Greenwood Recreation Centre Dec. 24. The Petrolia Y will also be closed during the duration of the 28-day shutdown.

All municipal governments are making similar moves.

The transition won’t be as difficult as March, since most municipalities are continuing to meet on virtual platforms.

Retail stores which do not sell food are also subject to closure. Many will be offering items for sale with curbside pickups.

Restaurants of all kinds can no longer serve customers indoors – most are offering curbside pickup, takeout or delivery to try to continue to serve customers and earn a living.

And while the second shutdown in Ontario is worrisome for business, the head of Bluewater Health says it was necessary.

CEO Mike Lapaine says Bluewater Health has a small ICU and could easily be overwhelmed if the cases in Lambton continue to rise.

“What we’ve seen and the rate of acceleration in cases, and then the rate of hospitalization, particularly ICU beds, suggest that by mid to late January, on our current trajectory, we might be in that situation where we have no ICU beds left.”
For now, Lapaine says, the hospitals are able to continue elective surgery.