Chatham-Kent Public Health has been very busy dealing with various COVID-19 issues but its leadership says the health unit staff is shifting gears and getting ready for what the future might bring, including a vaccine to treat the virus.
Public health workers will be responsible for vaccination when the vaccine is available.
Director of Public Health Teresa Bendo told the health board of directors that her staff is "certainly up to the challenge."
General Manager of Community and Human Services April Rietdyk said her employees have been dealing with major life issues such as housing challenges. She said tenants are getting restless because of the pandemic restrictions and are acting out. She said it has not been easy for them because the housing vacancy rate was low before COVID-19 and it's certainly a lot worse now.
"As folks stay home, there are consequences to that and certainly tensions rise, tenants begin to act in ways not seen prior to COVID-19," said Rietdyk.
Rietdyk said there has been a 30 per cent increase in social services cases because people are hurting.
She added many public health workers have been working seven days a week, including weekends and holidays and are tired but have never complained about their heavy workload during the past nine weeks. Rietdyk said many library and leisure staff who were about to get laid off because of COVID-19 immediately stepped up and agreed to be redeployed to help other areas such as Riverview Gardens long term care home and the temporary shelter at the John Bradley Convention Centre. Local nursing homes were closed to volunteers and visitors at the beginning of the pandemic and municipal staff had to make up for the loss of hundreds of those helpers. Rietdyk said some workers are doing jobs they didn't sign up for.
"Some have chosen voluntary leaves but those who have come to work have come to work each day doing their best to make sure that some of our most vulnerable are cared for," Rietdyk said.
She called public health workers the front line defence in the battle against COVID-19 as they test and track cases and contacts and credits them for the low number of cases in the community. Rietdyk thanked the entire community for helping flatten the curve and her staff for helping the community fight the virus.
"Our staff has risen to the challenge. They have not once complained about their new norm of working weekends and holidays," she said.
Rietdyk said essential public health services continue outside of COVID-19 to ensure the community stays as healthy as it can. Bendo added the health unit is transitioning to open other services such as clinics as the economy gradually opens.
"While we are tired, we are determined to support the community through this," said Rietdyk.