Chatham-Kent's top doctor is reflecting on the challenges and sacrifices of the past year as we approach the one year mark of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since then, there have been several lockdowns and thousands of deaths in Canada because of the virus. Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby declared a local emergency on March 13, 2020 to deal with the virus. Colby says he has also gone through a gamut of emotions, such as worry, frustration, pride, and optimism. He remembers being worried about what he was seeing around the world but said Chatham-Kent Public Health has been successful in "blunting" the effects of COVID-19 on the community.
"At no point was our hospital and ICU and ventilator supply overwhelmed to the point where anyone was denied care," said Colby. "That's what I was saying was not going to happen. It has not happened."
Colby said it's been an incredible team effort with some people dealing with outbreaks working up to 16 hour days to get everybody tested, diagnosed, isolated, and out of circulation.
"It was very organized and very well done and I'm just so proud of everyone who has contributed to this effort and I'm very proud of our citizens who by and large have been very compliant with public health suggestions that we need to keep everybody safe," he said.
The doctor urges the public to keep following public health safety rules a little longer until a critical mass of people are vaccinated to get this pandemic "licked." Dr. Colby reiterated that vaccination is safe and it works, pointing to the success of vaccination efforts in the U.K. and Israel. He said vaccination makes all of the difference to protect individuals and stop the transmission to others and must be the focus of pandemic control efforts now.
Mayor Darrin Canniff added the municipality's success during the pandemic was a community effort and showed what Chatham-Kent is all about.
"It was us working together. We couldn't have done it as a single group. We've tackled this as good as any community ever could and I'm super proud of what we've done here collectively," said the mayor.
Colby said the pandemic has been difficult on everyone including himself, adding he has lost 35 lbs over the past year. He has had to deal with tensions and protests over mandatory masks, and his attempts to bring science to the discussion were not always well received.
"I have trouble remembering what life was like before the pandemic but I'm proud to serve," he said.
Colby said despite the criticism of who he calls "keyboard doctors" (those who don't have a medical degree but act online as if they do), the approval rating of doctors remains high, according to Ipsos-Reid. He gives the public health system a lot of credit, which he said it usually doesn't get, and likens it to an army because it's always on standby to keep the public safe.
"When there is a war you don't ask if you're going to serve, you ask how you're going to serve," said Colby. "When you're in the army it's up to you to do whatever is necessary to win the battles one by one and win the war."
He admitted everyone in the health care system is tired but said they still have some fight left to hold the line.
Mayor Canniff commended Dr. Colby for his leadership throughout this pandemic and gave him a lot of credit for all of the success and the low COVID-19 cases enjoyed by Chatham-Kent.
"He's a major reason why we're in the position we are today," Canniff said.
There have been nine deaths linked to COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent and 1,356 total cases since the start of the pandemic. As of Friday, March 5, 2021, Chatham-Kent had 11 active cases and zero outbreaks.
