The province has formally extended their state of emergency in order to provide province-wide support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic currently gripping B.C.
The City of Merritt’s State of Local Emergency was suspended by the Province of B.C. in mid-March for a more coordinated approach throughout the Provincial government.
“Using the extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act, the Minister has issued a series of ministerial orders to ensure a coordinated response to COVID-19 across all levels of government for the duration of the provincial emergency,” the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General said in a statement.
The original state of emergency was declared on March 18 based on recommendations by Provincial Health Officer, Bonnie Henry, who declared a public health emergency.
The extension of the state of emergency will run to April 14, with Premier John Horgan calling the next two weeks “critically important”.
A statement from the City of Merritt stressed that its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is working closely with the province.
“The City’s EOC has been operational for the past two weeks, enabling City administration to respond appropriately during these rapidly changing times,” said the City of Merritt’s release. “The City of Merritt EOC follows the Emergency Management BC guidelines under the direction of the Policy Group consisting of Mayor Linda Brown and two Councillors. The EOC reviews information; provides a clear line of communication with the Province, Interior Health, and other agencies; prepares communications to the community; and plans Merritt’s long-term response and recovery.”
The City’s priority is still to continue essential services, including 24-hour police and fire, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) for such services.
Premier John Horgan said in a conference that the move was to take a more “uniform approach”, and should give municipal councils the ability to hold more flexible meetings to expedite decisions, and coordinate potential use of publicly-owned facilities, like community centres, for self-isolation, testing, medical care, and distribution.
