Now is the time for everyone to come together

Theresa Marentette says simple health messages offer big rewards.

Letter to the community,

As I write this, I know that many of you are wondering how the COVID-19 epidemic will impact your lives, family and friends, businesses, workplaces and schools, and the many activities you currently enjoy in Windsor and Essex County.

I want the residents of WEC to please know that the public health measures that have been put in place are to protect your health and well-being. COVID-19, a disease that has impacted every part of the world, has come to our part of the world. To protect your loved ones, be firm in your commitment to take care of yourself and others by listening to our public health messaging; wash your hands with soap and water, keep your distance from others, stay home when you’re sick and cough or sneeze into your elbow. These are simple messages with big rewards. We are learning from other countries who have unfortunately been early victims of COVID-19, countries that are literally locked down due to

the indiscriminate actions of this virus.

To the seniors in our community. We will take care of you. We know you are our most vulnerable and are concerned as you hear and read about this pandemic. You are being asked to stay home during this time, as hard and lonely as that may be, it is the best thing you can do to protect yourself. It won’t be forever even though the days will be long. We know you will miss your social interactions and routines, just pause for a time and we will get you back with your friends when it’s safe to do so. Now is the time for all of us to reach out to our neighbours and family members who may need our help in picking up groceries, prescriptions, or a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

To the business owners in our area. Thank you for all that you bring to our community from the food we eat to the vehicles you build. For everything you contribute to our small towns and big cities. We know this is a difficult time for you and that all businesses are greatly impacted by the implementation of public health measures. Please know that we do this for the health and safety of our community. We promise we will support your establishments when it is safe to do so.

To our health -are workers. Thank you for your dedication to the people of Windsor and Essex County. You are on the front line caring for our residents as they seek to understand the progression of a disease with symptoms that can resemble a common cold or much worse. You continue to work with public health to identify those at risk and increase testing options in our community. A special shout out to our public health nurses who have been working on COVID-19 since the first case in Ontario two months ago.

To our municipal partners. Thank you for keeping our communities safe during this time. For your leadership and commitment to extra cleaning and disinfection in public places. For consulting with the health unit on major decisions and for supporting the recommendations of our medical officer of health to ensure our communities are safe. Closing recreational facilities and public spaces is hard on a community but we respect you for putting the health of your residents as the highest priority during this time.

To our partners in education. Thank you for educating our children and youth and for consistently promoting our hand washing mantra, knowing it is key to disease prevention. Thank you for being a conduit to parents for public health messages — if only there was a vaccine for COVID-19.

And finally, to our media partners, our local experts in communication. Thank you for your time and attention to ensure the public is properly informed. You are true ambassadors for public health messaging at this critical time.

We are all here together at this unprecedented time in the world living in our small piece of it; Windsor-essex County. Your health and well-being is our top priority. Now is the time to work together and do our part to protect ourselves and the people around us.

Theresa Marentette is CEO and chief nursing officer of the Windsor-essex County Health Unit