Region of Durham lifts state of emergency

Whitby, Ontario – The following statement is being issued on behalf of John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer:

“Today, March 28, in consultation with the Durham Region Medical Officer of Health, the Chief Administrative Officer, Regional Emergency Control Group, and in partnership with all of our local municipalities, I am happy to officially lift the state of emergency in Durham Region.

When I declared the state of emergency two years ago, no one truly knew the challenging journey ahead of us—and as we know today, life hasn’t been the same since.

There have been countless sacrifices made from all Durham residents— frontline heroes, small businesses, volunteers, and so many others. Your dedication and collective efforts have had a direct and positive impact on getting us through this pandemic.

More than 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Durham last year, with community and hospital clinics being the predominant vaccine delivery channel. In 2022, the Region’s vaccine rollout and pandemic response continues with the help of our community partners.

We continued to support the local business community through initiatives such as the award-winning Downtowns of Durham campaign, the Shop Where You Live campaign, Do It In Durham Week, and the Shop Durham Region online marketplace.

We worked with local partners to protect our most vulnerable residents, with initiatives like the In/Out of the Crisis program at Camp Samac, advancing new affordable housing projects in Beaverton and Oshawa, and carrying out the Primary Care Outreach Program. 

And this is only a small sample of what was achieved.

As this state of emergency lift signifies, there is so much to look forward to. Signs of recovery and normalcy are becoming more apparent.

We wouldn’t be able to get to this stage without the support from you, our amazing community. Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping you and your loved ones protected. Your resilience, and your unyielding spirit has been an inspiration. While we are moving in a positive direction with hope and optimism, we must remain vigilant to avoid sliding backwards. Please continue to follow all current public health guidelines to ensure that we manage COVID-19 the best we can.

Thank you for remaining #DurhamStrong, and for exemplifying the values that make me proud to call Durham Region home.”

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For media requests, please contact CorporateCommunications@durham.ca.