Chatham-Kent's Medical Officer of Health is reassuring the public that food safety has not been compromised as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak at a greenhouse growing facility in Kent Bridge.
CK Public Health reported on Monday afternoon that Greenhill Produce in Kent Bridge now has 40 migrant workers who tested positive for COVID-19.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby told Blackburn News most of our food and produce is imported this time of year anyway and there is no evidence of food-borne outbreaks with regards to COVID-19 anywhere around the world. Colby said the virus doesn't have the characteristics of a food-borne outbreak.
"This isn't the way COVID-19 spreads," said Colby.
Colby said COVID-19 is a respiratory virus spread through droplets and added the virus has a very limited shelf life of a day or so on surfaces and can easily be washed away with soap and water, by cooking, or with alcohol-based sanitizers.
"This is not something people should worry about in terms of their food," he said.
Colby said despite this big jump, Chatham-Kent still has among the lowest number of cases in the province, adding he doesn't see this latest outbreak as the start of something bigger.
"It's big enough the way it is and has to be carefully managed all the way through, but we got this," added Colby.
Greenhill Produce said it remains committed to continuing operations in a safe, responsible, and effective manner as part of the food supply chain.
"We are proud to be able to help supply food to our local community and beyond during this time, and while this situation poses challenges, we are implementing substantial measures to continue to be able to do so safely," wrote Justin Geertsema, vice president and general manager of Greenhill Produce, in a media release issued Sunday afternoon.
Greenhill Produce was founded in 2001 and has 125 acres of greenhouse production. It produces red, yellow, and orange bell peppers. Approximately 75 per cent of its product is exported.
Geertsema told Blackburn News half of his workforce has been isolated for 14 days and he's unsure how they're going to keep up with picking the peppers. He said the harvest starts in March and ends in November and added this is a very uncertain time.
Geertsema said getting product out the door is a huge concern right now and he should have a better idea if there are any financial losses by the end of May.
"We're doing the best we can with the remaining staff," he said.
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), which represents approximately 200 farmers across the province issued a news release Monday night saying that ensuring Canadians have access to fresh nutritious produce is critical to their members and they are working urgently with the farmer to source a short-term workforce to care for the crop while the Greenhill staff is recovering.
OGVG also said the federal and provincial governments have a series of regulatory and legislative oversite measures to ensure the welfare and safety of all workers, including international workers, is protected. It added international workers have access to the same supports as our domestic workforce, including: WSIB, EI and equitable access to Canadian health care.
“Our farmers have an important job to do – we’re working hard to make sure we deliver food onto Ontarians’ plates,” said Joe Sbrocchi, general manager of OGVG. “International and domestic workers play an essential role in ensuring our food supply and it is essential that Ontarians know that we are doing everything possible to keep workers safe and healthy for everyone’s sake – especially in these unprecedented times.”
According to the latest numbers issued by the local public health unit on Monday afternoon, 48 of the 75 total confirmed cases so far are active and 234 test results are still pending. Twenty-six people have recovered and one person has died.
