Police Have Become 'Overwhelmed' With 911 Calls About Ontario's Stay-At-Home Order

Police are asking people to call 311 instead.
Ontario's Stay-At-Home-Order Is Overwhelming 911 Lines, Says Police
Allysha Howse | Narcity Michael | Flickr
Contributing Writer

Peel Regional Police are asking residents not to call 911 for info on Ontario's stay-at-home order.

Police tweeted on Thursday that communicators were being
"overwhelmed" by calls about the new lockdown restrictions.

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Residents of the Peel region are being reminded to call 311 for their COVID-19-related questions instead. 

The unit states that the emergency hotline should only be used for urgent matters such as crime, fire and medical emergencies. 

The announcement comes after Ontario sent out an emergency alert to cellphones across the province on Thursday morning to remind residents about the new measures. 

This isn't the first time that the emergency line has been misused. 

Earlier this month, Guelph Police reported that they had received 182 accidental or silent calls to 911 in five days.

The Ontario Provincial Police also asked Oxford County residents back in December to stop calling 911 over raccoon concerns.

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  • Patrick John Gilson

    Contributing Writer

    Patrick John Gilson (he/him) is a Contributing Writer with Narcity Media. He is a pro at ensuring his content is both exciting and tailored to millennials. He specializes in breaking news and investigative stories that require him to be on scene— something he enjoys and thrives in.

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