Public health officials are still working to isolate cases and trace their contacts after 12 new COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent were linked to a recent boating trip.
CK Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said the trip took place over several days in eastern Ontario and involved multiple local households.
Officials are still working to isolate the cases and trace their contacts, noting there is "a very large number."
Colby said it's a reminder that while the municipality is in Stage 3, there is still the potential for the rapid spread of COVID-19.
"Social circles are a maximum of 10 people for good reason; with everyone else, we must physically distance," said Colby.
Colby added he won't fine any of the boaters for breaking health and safety rules because fines are only laid against those who break a specific health order.
"Our purpose is to help people, not to punish them. The only punishment is when they become a danger to the public, than that's used as an incentive to keep them from spreading the infection elsewhere," said Colby. "If an order like that has been formally served on someone and they violate the terms of that order, then fines can be levied."
Colby went on to elaborate that fines are only laid against those who willingly pose a risk to public health.
"Ah, you're a positive case, you must have done something wrong and I'm going to fine you. No, we don't have that kind of punitive thing here," he added.
Colby said most people are "very compliant" when he asks them to do something that is for the good of the community. He added he only writes, on average, one health order per week.
Public health officials are reminding people to ensure they physically distance from others, stay home if they are unwell, don't exceed the gathering limits of 50 indoors and 100 outdoors, and use 70% alcohol hand sanitizer frequently.
They are also asking the public to be mindful and respect the space of other social circles.
Colby told reporters at a weekly media teleconference on Thursday that Phase 3 of the provincial economic reopening has -- for the most part -- gone well in Chatham-Kent. He said he would have given it a grade of B- before the boating cluster and the local Low German community outbreak -- after that, he is inclined to downgrade that to a C+.
Colby also confirmed that nine cases that were reported by CK Public Health on Wednesday afternoon "in a congregate setting" are part of the local Low German community.
He added that local churches of all denominations in the municipality appear to be respecting the health and safety rules laid out by the health unit.
Colby also said he can't attribute the latest surge to either Phase 3 or community transmission and/or spread because they are all contained and confined to certain pockets and risk groups.
- with files from Paul Pedro
