CK Public Health is reporting that a recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent is due to cases within the Low German speaking communities.
CK Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said an investigation of the recent surge of COVID-19 cases has revealed that these cases are occurring within Low German speaking communities across a broad band of Southwestern Ontario. Colby said the health units across the Chatham and Windsor area are working with the Low German speaking communities to manage cases and contacts, and to limit the spread of COVID-19.
“CK Public Health is doing everything possible to help our Low German speaking citizens, who have been so severely affected by this pandemic,” said Colby.
Low German speaking people have lived in Chatham-Kent since the mid 1980s, with new families arriving more recently from Mexico and Bolivia. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said Low German refers to the specific dialect of the German language, not a connection with status. Many Low German families live in rural areas of Chatham-Kent, working in the agricultural sector as they have done for several centuries in Mexico, Canada, Ukraine, Russia, and Poland.
Dr. Colby urges people to please continue to stay kind to each other, while following public health measures. Those measures include physical distancing of two metres, wearing face coverings indoors if physical distancing is not possible, frequently washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer with 70 per cent alcohol, staying home (not going into the community or to work) if you’re not feeling well, and getting tested for COVID-19. Dr. Colby added workplaces must ensure that screening processes are in place.
CK Public Health reported a workplace outbreak in Chatham-Kent Wednesday afternoon with three active cases but released no other details. Eight new cases of COVID-19 and four recovered cases were also reported for a total of 54 active cases. That’s an increase of four active cases from Tuesday. Four local people are also in the hospital, three more than was reported Tuesday.
