The RMWB is declaring a State of Local Emergency over the rising cases of COVID-19.

Wood Buffalo council held a special meeting on Sunday where they passed a motion to have the Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Emergency Management bring forward recommendations at their scheduled meeting on Tuesday.

They didn’t outline any potential recommendations, though they note they could include measures aimed at reducing the spread.

The region remains the worst in the province when it comes to spread of the virus. The RMWB is averaging nearly 1,320 cases per 100,000 individuals.

The closest is Banff which is averaging nearly 140 fewer cases per 100,000 people.

They also passed a motion to request the provincial and federal governments to accelerate vaccine distribution across the region.

According to the Fort McMurray Today, over 10 per cent of Fort McMurray’s population and 14 per cent of people in rural hamlets and First Nations have gotten their first shot.

Council also approved requesting an urgent, emergency meeting with Premier Jason Kenney, Alberta Ministers Adriana LaGrange and Tyler Shandro, Alberta Health Services, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Federal Ministers of Health, Public Safety and Indigenous Services, Prime Minister of Canada, as well as Industry Partners, and more.

They also plan on sending a letter to the provincial and federal governments outlining all concerns.