While several politicians across Canada travelled out of country during the Christmas break and got caught, it seems politicians in Chatham-Kent stayed home.
Chatham-Kent Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls told Blackburn News he parked himself during the holidays.
"I have not traveled outside of Canada at any time during the pandemic, nor do I have any plans of extensive travel outside the province or country," he said.
Chatham-Kent's Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire also said he and Mayor Darrin Canniff haven't traveled internationally and added he personally hasn't traveled since August. Shropshire said non-essential business travel has been restricted since March in Chatham-Kent, although some municipal staff have traveled for personal reasons, such as caring for a family member who was ill. He also said he's not aware of any member of council traveling either.
"In those cases, staff have been asked to follow the protocols recommended by Public Health, such as isolating at home for up to 14 days and getting a COVID test," Shropshire said.
He added almost all travel and face to face meetings have been replaced by virtual meetings, such as Skype or Zoom meetings or telephone calls. Shropshire said the municipality set up and online reporting system in the Spring for staff to report any international travel and introduced an additional protocol in the Fall for employees to screen themselves and report their COVID-19 status at the beginning of each work day. He said that applies to those working at home and their regular worksite and the status is monitored by their supervisor.
"I can't make any generalized statements as to what we do if somebody did travel, that really is a case by case basis," Shropshire said. "Our principal concern is making sure that if people are put at greater risk because of travel, that we take steps to negate any additional spread."
The CEO of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Lori Marshall said neither she nor her management team have traveled during the pandemic. Marshall said her hospital staff was also provided with travel advice early on. She said travel for hospital staff must be approved by Human Resources and only urgent travel is permitted. Marshall added her Vice Presidents also need her approval to travel and she needs approval from the Board of Directors to do the same. She said any travel not approved would result in disciplinary consequences but didn't elaborate on what that would be. Marshall also said anyone on her staff traveling outside of Canada who was not approved would not be paid during the 14-day quarantine.
"I am not aware this would be an issue in Chatham-Kent among health care providers," said Marshall.
Chatham-Kent Leamington MP Dave Epp has not returned a request asking about his travel.
