Brockton Businesses and COVID-19 Newsletter
March 17, 2020
COVID-19 Symptoms Poster
The coronavirus outbreak has Brockton businesses wondering about the best actions to take to protect their employees and customers. 

Some businesses have closed or reduced their hours, and many have put up notices cautioning customers to not enter the premises if they have travelled anywhere outside Canada in the past 14 days, are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in contact with someone who has the virus.  

We have attached a poster that you can use.

Today, Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in Ontario and ordered the closure of all recreation facilities, libraries, private schools, licensed childcare centres, theatres, concert venues and bars and restaurants, except those providing take-out services, effective immediately. The order is in effect until March 31 st to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and protect the public, particularly our most vulnerable citizens.

The Premier emphasized that this is “not a provincial shut-down” and that the business supply chain will continue, with the goal of meeting essential needs. The order does not apply to grocery stores, pharmacies, construction, or transit.

A relief fund of $300-million is being established, part of it earmarked to help protect workers and businesses, and the province is working with the federal government to implement immediate reforms to employment insurance and other workplace programs. Read the full News Release

Resources for Employers
The following links are from reputable law firms and may provide assistance to you as a business owner to determine how best to work with employees during the pandemic, including information about self-isolation, quarantine, layoffs and workers who need time off to care for family members.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has published a Pandemic Resource Guide , available for download.

The Government of Canada is offering some excellent coronavirus awareness infographics that you can share with human resources staff and employees.

RTO7, the regional tourism organization for Bruce, Grey and Simcoe Counties, is publishing regular updates to assist businesses. You can sign up for the RTO7 newsletter here.

The Ministry of Health offers up to date information about the coronavirus, including links to the Grey-Bruce Health Unit and Telehealth Ontario.

Stay up to date by subscribing to the Brockton Business Newsletter or bookmarking our coronavirus page at Brockton.ca/COVID19
Measures to Protect Ontario Residents
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has provided direction on enhanced Measures to Protect Ontarians from COVID-19, which covers:
  • Recommended closures
  • Advice for Employers
  • If you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19
  • If you have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days
  • If you start to feel symptoms of COVID-19.

Please note that anyone who has travelled outside Canada in the past two weeks is being asked to self-isolate and not go to work, unless they are a healthcare worker or other essential worker.

As well, the Chief Medical Officer of Health is asking that all employers in Ontarians to facilitate virtual work arrangements to enable employees to work from home where possible to enable workers to limit their activities, care for children and to self-isolate. In workplaces where this is not possible, employers are asked to use their judgement to sustain operations in a manner that maintains social distancing.”

The Brockton Municipal Office is closed to the public but staff continue to work and are available to assist at 519-881-2223 or by email [email protected] . The Walkerton BIA is closed to the public, but staff are working remotely to respond to emails and social media messages. The BIA can be contacted at [email protected] or [email protected] or through Facebook or Instagram.  
Municipality of Brockton | Brockton.ca