Chatham-Kent's Medical Officer of Health says there's no truth to allegations of neglect and unsafe living conditions during a recent COVID-19 outbreak at a greenhouse operation in Kent Bridge.
A Tuesday posting on a blog called Harvesting Freedom accused CK Public Health and Greenhill Produce of allowing infected migrant workers at the Kent Bridge company to live in the same bunkhouse with those who tested negative for the virus from April 22 to April 24. The anonymous migrant worker, who made the complaint to an activist group in Toronto called Justice for Migrant Workers, said the workers all used the same utensils, the same bathroom, and did everything as if nothing was wrong, only to be told the company is following the health procedures.
"We ask for sanitizers to help kill the spreading of the virus in such a crowded place [and] until now none," read the post.
On Wednesday, Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby told Blackburn News any allegation that the local public health unit took too long to respond to the outbreak is false. He said this outbreak first came to CKPH's attention on April 21 when the CK assessment centre alerted public health officials that six symptomatic migrant workers from Greenhill Produce were brought in for testing. Colby added the health unit immediately moved to isolate them and launched an investigation.
Colby said symptomatic workers and those who tested positive were separated into different bunkhouses away from those who were negative and asymptomatic and any allegation that CKPH did not respond in a timely manner is not true.
"All of the residents are isolated except for one bunkhouse at a different location where there are no positives and no symptomatics," he said.
The workers at Greenhill Produce contracted the virus from a staff member who tested positive on April 8 and lives outside of the facilities, the medical officer of health said.
"Once COVID-19 got into the bunkhouses, the communal living arrangements facilitated the easy spread," said Colby.
Colby said, as he understands it, the bunkhouses are not crowded and the bunks are adequately spaced for social distancing. He added there are common cooking facilities in each bunkhouse but that is not a problem if the dishes are washed and social distancing is maintained. He also said there are hand washing facilities there and hand sanitizer is not required as long as there are places to wash hands.
The complainant also said the migrant workers at Greenhill Produce, mostly from Mexico, Jamaica and Guatemala, feel like outcasts and being treated as if they don't matter.
"We want a voice, we are so afraid to talk, we are afraid we get sent back home," wrote the complainant. "This is our job, this is how we survive, this is how we take care of our family back home. Without this, God help [us]. So we are grateful for the job, we are happy for it but we need to be treated as equal as everyone."
The complainant also said the workers haven't seen or heard from their liaison officers who should be their advocates.
The anonymous worker added this could have been avoided and it amounts to negligence.
"When workers took sick, they took too long before medical attention [was given] and [workers were] still going to work, then it spread. Please, please hear our cry."
The vice president and general manager of Greenhill Produce, Justin Geertsema, said he has seen the anonymous letter. He said he completely appreciates and understands the individual’s concerns. He admitted it's a difficult time at Greenhill Produce right now and added workers will continue to get paid. He added all isolation activities directed by the health unit are being followed on the farm, including mandatory active screening, physical distancing, accommodation specifics requiring all employees to wear masks and glove at all times, strict sanitation twice a day, and erecting physical barriers where needed.
On Wednesday afternoon, CK Public Health reported a total of 47 positive cases of COVID-19 at Greenhill Produce. Forty-five of them are migrant workers and two are staff from the local community. Dr. Colby said 54 tests from the bunkhouses have come back negative, while 13 tests are pending. Another 91 tests have come back negative for the rest of the workforce with 24 more test results pending.
Colby said it's important to know that the migrant workers did not bring this COVID-19 outbreak into our community because most of them were already here before the pandemic. He added they were here between four and 12 months and any workers who arrived during the pandemic were quarantined for 14 days.
Dr. Colby said the workers shopped in the community but even if any of them were contagious for a short period of time before they were isolated, the social distancing rules that are in place should prevent community spread.
"We have seen no upsurge in the community and many of the workers have improved markedly," he said. "We are managing this."
Colby also said the local public health unit is involved in managing the outbreak through infection control and routinely has inspectors ensuring healthy living conditions in the residences.
Chris Ramsaroop with Justice for Migrant Workers told Blackburn News he would like to see the Ministry of Labour inspect the bunkhouses.
