A Survey looking into the impact of COVID -19 on residents of Huron and Perth counties has now been sent out.
University of Guelph Assistant Professor, Leith Deacon, says the surveys were mailed out to Huron County residents on August 12 and released to Perth County residents Friday. He says the study looks specifically at the impact on people living in rural communities and looks at four areas.
“The first is to identify vulnerable populations across the two counties that have been affected by COVID-19. The second is to determine priority programs to support those populations during and the on-going post COVID-19 response.”
“The third is to explore the opportunities for the non-profit or the charitable sector, during and post COVID-19 because we are partnering with the United Way Perth Huron as well as Listowel Salvation Army on this project. And the fourth is to identify emergent mental health and economic concerns generated by COVID-19.”
Deacon adds, it's really important that policy makers and decision makers have access to the most accurate, the most local data that they can. So one of the reasons why they launched the residents survey is to provide the opportunity for residents across Huron and Perth County to voice their opinion.
Deacon points out the majority of Canadians live in urban centres, but fifteen per cent do live in rural communities and it's important that they be heard. He expects to release results from the survey later this fall.
