Ontario could soon be using the emergency alert system to tell residents to stay home.
Normally used for Amber Alerts or to warn of dangerous situations, the system sends text message alerts to virtually every mobile phone, TV and radio in the province.
New Zealand and Washington, D.C. are among the jurisdictions that have used the communication method during the coronavirus crisis.
“STAY HOME: You have a critical role to play in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in D.C.,” read the alert sent to residents in the U.S. capital.
In New Zealand, a similar message: “Follow the rules and STAY HOME. Act as if you have COVID-19. This will save lives.”
So will Ontario follow this pattern in an attempt to reach people who don’t seem to be getting the message? Perhaps.
“We are considering all options to keep the public informed about the emergency orders and the advice of Ontario’s chief medical officer of health,” said Stephen Warner, a spokesman for Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.
The province hasn’t made a decision yet but discussions are apparently happening on the possibility of using the system, perhaps as early as this weekend.
While many people are following the request to stay home, officials continue to be frustrated that some simply aren’t getting the message.
via Amber Alert to tell Ontarians to stay home? | North Bay Nugget
