Civic and public health leaders in Chatham-Kent are frustrated with people holding indoor gatherings that may send the municipality back into lockdown.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said going into the Grey-Lockdown level of the provincial COVID-19 public health and safety measures and restrictions is now on the table because of the significant rise in case counts in the area caused by indoor gatherings. Colby, Mayor Darrin Canniff, and Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire all said on Thursday indoor gatherings have community consequences and show a lack of regard for others.
Colby said he can't believe this is still happening a full year into the pandemic and said every case can be traced back to a breakdown in protocols. He said people should know better by now.
"I don't know what more we can do if people choose to put their head in the sand," said Colby. "People should know after a year that indoor gatherings are dangerous not just for you but for all of your contacts. I don't believe the people who are doing this did not know they were doing something forbidden."
Shropshire said the community needs to "double-down" and follow the COVID-19 rules to protect each other. He wonders how people can justify partying when their neighbours are dying.
"If somebody went to a party and they actually had to explain why they thought they had the right to do that to the people who lost a loved one or lost their business I think it would be a very different consequence," said Shropshire.
Dr. Colby also said "unbelievably" people are still not forthcoming with his investigators when they get tested. He said they're being evasive about their contacts and whereabouts.
Mayor Canniff said he's not happy that some people are sill ignoring the COVID-19 guidelines.
"When a few community members go off and do this it has repercussions right across the whole community," said the mayor. "It's very unfortunate that small businesses [are] going to be impacted because some people made decisions to have these parties."
Shropshire said bylaw enforcement is still going on but added there aren't enough municipal bylaw enforcement officers to patrol the entire community and keep people in check, adding it would be like a dog chasing its tail. The mayor added breaking the COVID-19 public health and safety rules has direct financial and mental health implications across the entire community.
Colby said he's holding his breath anxiously waiting to find out on Friday if Chatham-Kent returns to COVID-19 lockdown. Municipal leaders said they can't forget the fact that the vast majority of people in Chatham-Kent have complied with COVID-19 rules and applaud them.
