CK Public Health officials say 17 more employees of Greenhill Produce have tested positive for COVID-19.
These employees are all a part of an ongoing workplace investigation declared on April 27, 2020.
“These employees initially tested negative but were suspected to have been exposed,” Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s Medical Officer of Health, said in a press release issued late Wednesday evening, May 13, 2020.
“They were isolated in separate bunkhouses, away from those who tested positive. That was direction given to Greenhill Produce as soon as their very first employees tested positive for the virus.”
CK Public Health’s role has been to advise the employer about public health measures required to halt the spread of the virus and to support the employer in implementing said directives, CK Public Health officials say.
In addition, CK Public Health has been in daily contact with the Greenhill Produce employees, utilizing translation services as necessary, to provide support and respond to any inquiries or public health concerns.
“It is likely that these cases were exposed prior to isolation,” Dr. Colby added.
“That is why they were tested again. Public Health measures, such as isolating those who have tested positive away from those who have not, exist to stop the spread of the virus. It is imperative that these measures are followed to the letter.”
These 17 cases bring the total number of confirmed cases in Chatham-Kent to 108, with 69 of those being a result of the outbreak at Greenhill Produce, CK Public Health officials say.
50 of those 69 have fully recovered and are back at work.
CK Public Health continues to investigate and advise regarding control measures.
Further updates regarding the current situation of COVID-19 can be found at the CK Public Health website at www.ckpublichealth.com/covid19.
