Dozens of workers at a greenhouse production facility in Kent Bridge have tested positive for COVID-19.
Justin Geertsema, vice president and general manager of Greenhill Produce, issued a media release Sunday afternoon saying 11 migrant workers at the facility that had tested positive for the illness are currently experiencing mild symptoms and are in self-isolation.
Since then, Chatham-Kent's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby confirmed that 11 more cases were confirmed Sunday evening and another 17 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at the facility Monday morning as part of the outbreak. The local public health unit reported the total number of cases at the facility was 40 as of Monday afternoon.
"We've got everybody who is sick isolated, everyone who is positive isolated, and all of their contacts have been notified and isolated and told to watch for symptoms," said Colby. "This outbreak will be contained -- I believe it is contained now, but we don't know the full extent because not all of the results are back yet."
According to Sunday afternoon's release from Greenhill Produce, the first six positive test results that came back were workers from Guatemala. Another five other confirmed cases were confirmed the following days.
The first 11 employees who tested positive for the virus occupy two of the seven residences and have all lived in Chatham-Kent for a time span ranging from four to 18 months.
"We are working closely with CK Public Health to manage this issue and we have informed the municipality of Chatham-Kent who has offered their assistance and support," read the release. "Contact tracing has been completed for all of these individuals, and all 250 members of our workforce have been tested for COVID-19."
Company officials said at least three tests have come back negative and the remaining test results are expected at some point this week.
"We have contacted consular officials of the home countries of our migrant workers to advise them of the situation," read the release.
Greenhill Produce said they will continue to coordinate with health officials and support their employees.
"Containment of the virus and the recovery of our staff are our top priorities," read the release. "We are proud to be able to help supply food to our local community and beyond during this time, and while this situation poses challenges, we are implementing substantial measures to continue to be able to do so safely."
Greenhill Produce currently employs 113 migrant workers from Jamaica, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Fifteen new workers who recently arrived in the area are in self-isolation, as specified by the federal government, and have had no contact with other employees.
As of Monday afternoon, the number of total COVID-19 cases reported in Chatham-Kent was at 75.