At 4:25 p.m. on Sept. 9, mayor Glover announced that the state of emergency, declared on Mar. 24, 2020, had been lifted.

The state of emergency was declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was put into effect under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which promotes the public good by protecting the health, safety and welfare of people in times of emergencies.

“The declared state of emergency gave the municipality tools and resources to address the unprecedented nature of the challenges posed by the pandemic,” said mayor Glover. “We’ve seen positive signs in the fight against COVID-19 in our area – including a low incidence of new cases and high vaccination rates – which allows us to take this step towards a new normal.”

In Grey and Bruce counties, 77 per cent of the eligible population (aged 12 and up) are fully vaccinated, close to the number of Ontarians fully vaccinated, which stands at 78 per cent.

Despite taking this significant, positive step towards the return of a new normal, important public health measures remain in place and the public is encouraged to continue to practice physical distancing, wear masks, and stay home when experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

Residents can refer to www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca and www.kincardine.ca for the latest guidelines.

Vaccinations continue to be available locally through the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit. To book a vaccination, visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine.