The former mayor of Chatham-Kent could be hooking up his old stomping ground with thousands of masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Randy Hope recently received a call from an old friend in Liyang, China, a city of one million people just outside of Shanghai that is said to have very few cases of COVID-19. The friend of the former mayor offered the Chatham area 10,000 surgical masks to help with community safety, and Hope immediately called Chatham-Kent's medical officer of health, Dr. David Colby, to see if they could be used.
Hope said the masks should arrive at Chatham Public Health this week and hopes they give people, such as store employees, extra protection if they need it.
Dr. Colby said generally "surgical" masks are for containment to be worn by those infected and not needed for protection from infection outside or when the two-metre physical distance can be maintained from people. He added surgical masks do form part of the standard protective gear for health care workers, along with gown, gloves and face shield and still has to examine them.
"Regardless I am grateful to Liyang City in China for sending the masks in recognition that we are all in this together," he said. "I thank Mr. Randy Hope for facilitating delivery of these masks from China."
Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said just this week that wearing protective masks in public gives people a false sense of protection and security, promotes face touching and discourages it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also does not recommend the masks if the individual wearing it is not ill.
The ex-mayor added he has kept in touch with his relationships and friendships in China for years and it was nice to get the donation and support from Liyang.
"It's not about me, it's about this community," Hope said. "I'm not out for political wins and I'm not returning to public life."
Hope said after 12 years as mayor, his heart and soul are still with the community and he can't walk away.
He said he has his own international company now and is working with Sunray Group to acquire discounted rooms at the Travelodge and Comfort Inn in Chatham for migrant workers to isolate when they return to the area to work at local farms and greenhouses.
Hope said he is working with the local economic development corporation to secure 200 rooms because migrant workers can't isolate in the bunker house when they return.
Meanwhile, the Christian Labour Association of Canada in Chatham has also followed through on a promise to help protect hospital workers in Chatham-Kent. Local 303 has so far donated 1,200 masks, including almost 600 N95 masks and 550 gloves to CKHA since their campaign started last week. Hospital officials said they are grateful for the donation and thanked Local 303 and the community for the generous donation of personal protective equipment (PPE).
"Thank you CLAC for collecting these PPE donations for CKHA," said CEO Lori Marshall. "Every mask and glove makes a difference! And thank you Chatham-Kent for your generosity and sharing."
