Cornwall, ON – Following the declaration of the World Health Organization declaring the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a global pandemic and decisions made by various levels of Government, Member of Parliament Eric Duncan provided the following updates to the local community:

• The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program will be suspending operations until further notice, effective 3:30pm on March 13, 2020. This move is made with the interests of the health of the community and the volunteer tax-preparers in mind.
• MP Duncan’s main constituency office in Cornwall and Monday satellite offices in Morrisburg and Winchester will be closed to walk-in traffic until further notice. The staff will remain available during regular hours (Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm) to answer phones and assist with case files. The toll-free number is 1-888-805-2513.
• MP Duncan will limit his public events in the coming weeks as a means of social distancing. He will continue to work full time by phone and videoconferencing.

• The Eastern Ontario Health Unit will be the lead with respect to testing of suspected cases of COVID-19. Please follow the Eastern Ontario Health Unit on Facebook for updates directly.

These are precautionary measures to avoid the possible spread of COVID-19 while communities across the country are seeing increased rates of infection and other large national organizations are taking significant steps to promote social distancing and flatten the curve of this virus.

“This is certainly a unique and evolving situation, but I encourage Canadians to be cautious but not fearful. Our country has faced big challenges before, and we will get through this by looking out for each other and being proactive in limiting our chance of infection,” said MP Duncan.

“The earlier we take these measures, the better off we will be in getting back to our normal routines and daily lives. Be safe and be calm, and keep updated as the situation continues to evolve.”

For all information pertaining to Covid-19, visit the federal government’s special website at www.canada.ca/coronavirus.