Dear Pontiac residents,
I would like to start off by thanking everyone for the great effort that every single person is making in our region. Thank you for your patience and for continuing to observe the important prevention protocols set out by health professionals. It is making a difference. We have been fortunate up to this point to not have any instances of COVID-19 in the Pontiac, and we want to continue flattening the curve in our region. We need to assume that the virus will come to the Pontiac, and this is what we can do to prepare ourselves:
- Stay calm and stay at home;
- Practice social distancing. Continue observing the isolation, hygiene and prevention measures even more strongly than ever. Wash your hands and avoid touching your face (eyes, mouth, ears and nose);
- If you’re over the age of 70, please stay in your home. Contact your local grocers and food banks to ask about delivery services, or work with family members or neighbours to ensure you can safely get all the supplies you need;
- We recognize how difficult this crisis is for essential services businesses and we appreciate that you’re open each day and taking the necessary precautions to keep our communities fed and safe. I ask citizens to please support these local businesses by buying your goods here, in the Pontiac;
- Stay focused on daily local updates from reliable sources, including the MRC Pontiac website, my Warden Jane Toller Facebook page, and CHIP FM 101,9 radio;
- There are currently several phone and internet scams going around that are targeting seniors and other vulnerable citizens. Do not answer these messages. Your main sources of information for anything COVID-19 and/or Canada’s Emergency Response Benefit are quebec.ca and canada.ca;
- People returning from travel MUST self-isolate for 14 days. Failure to comply with this order of the Quarantine Act can result in fines of up to $750,000 and/or 6 months in prison. All individuals, with the exception of essential workers, are subject to this measure, whether or not you display symptoms. The government agencies are aware of all incoming travellers, and are already doing spot checks. The Sûreté du Québec is enforcing and monitoring these measures in the Pontiac as well. I invite citizens to contact their municipalities to report any individual who is not taking these precautions and to report any large gathering of people. You can also report these incidents to me at 819-647-8198 or by email (prefete@mrcpontiac.qc.ca);
Finally, I would like to salute our Premier, François Legault. We are fortunate to have such a proactive leader who strongly believed in testing from the beginning. Quebec is among the few places in the world to be ahead of the curve for COVID-19 testing, which is crucial to contain the virus. At this point we don’t know how long we’ll need to stay at home, and we’re taking things one day and one week at a time. We’re in this together. Be wise, be careful and think of others.
Pontiac together!
-Jane Toller
