As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across North America, steps are being taken to protect some of the most important and vital workers in the continent.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) told Blackburn News safe places are being provided for frontline hospital workers who don't want to risk infecting their own families by going home. Fannie Vavoulis, CKHA's director of communications, said there are approximately 20 rooms for staff and physicians that are being offered free of charge if "they choose to be apart from their families during this difficult time."
"These include our CKHA-owned student houses and two other generously donated community spaces," she added. "Also several hotels in the area have discounted rates for our staff and physicians."
Windsor and Detroit have also stepped up to keep healthcare workers safe by providing safe spaces. A downtown Windsor hotel is now available to frontline healthcare workers who need to isolate themselves from their families, while Detroit has also put some hotel rooms aside for hospital workers dealing with the virus outbreak who don't want to chance spreading it at home.
Conversely, the truck drivers who are working to keep food on grocery store shelves say they are not getting much help since trucking was named an essential service. The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) said some truckers are being denied entry to some rest stop washrooms over fears they might be carrying COVID-19 and may contaminate the facilities. Other truckers fear they may get the virus because they can't properly wash their hands.
Monte McNaughton, Ontario's Minister of Labour and MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, tweeted a stern message about the issue on Monday.
"This is a disgrace," he said. "Drivers get goods to market. Let's show them some respect. And businesses: Ensure your washroom facilities are properly cleaned. Let's all work together."
Stephen Laskowski, president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, said 90 per cent of all consumer goods are delivered by truck. He added half of the food on Canadians’ tables comes from the United States by truck, 70 percent of everything in the Canada/U.S. trade network moves by truck, life-saving medical supplies are trucked, and parts for new ventilators arrive at the manufacturer's location by truck, which is also how the assembled ventilators will be delivered to hospitals.
He said people are scared and truck drivers are running into that but there’s been some heartening public support too, a lot of it on social media at #thankatrucker.
The CTA said truckers who cross the border are exempt from the 14-day self-isolation requirement unless an individual becomes symptomatic. They are being asked to self-monitor while they keep the supply chain moving.
The trucking agency said drivers are getting additional screening and questioning at the border but not much other disruption unless they are exhibiting clear symptoms or have returned from a COVID “hot spot” within the last 14 days.
"CTA can assure the public and supply chain that our members’ drivers are well educated and trained on proper hygiene and social distancing protocols and other best practices to keep themselves and the employees of their customers safe," said Lak Shoan, director of the Ontario Trucking Association."