Region forces closure of Mennonite churches, schools
A SPIKE IN COVID-19 CASES
among Old Order Mennonite groups this week forced the Region of Waterloo to step in, ordering the closure of churches and parochial schools.
The announcement made Monday by medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang applies to members of the Old Order, Markham, Old Colony, and David Martin Mennonite communities in Waterloo Region.
In addition to requiring that individuals themselves comply with public health requirements, the order made under section 22 of the province’s Health Protection and Promotion Act prohibits social gatherings in or on a private residence with people outside of a person’s immediate household.
Under the order, those who do not comply can be given a $750 ticket or a Part III summons with fines reaching up to $5,000 per day.
“We have benefited from the support of community leaders and many individual members of these Mennonite communities. Unfortunately, we have encountered insufficient cooperation among a number of individuals
with public health requirements, including the requirements to self-isolate, not attend work when sick, and identify high-risk contacts for public health,” Wang in the release. “As a result, orders are being issued as the risk to the community as a whole, as well as to other people with whom community members interact, has become too high.”
The order follows attempts at voluntary compliance, notes Andrea Reist, the region’s director of child, family and dental health.
“Here in Waterloo Region, we have not placed specific section 22 orders because the Old Order and Mennonite communities did close their schools and churches voluntarily for a short period of time. So, we are working in collaboration with the community to address the incidences of COVID that are happening and, of course, public health follows up with respect to case and contact tracing,” she said, dispelling rumours that public health workers have been making door-to-door visits requiring people in the communities to undergo COVID-19 testing
“There is not people going door to door. What has taken place is that there’s been a community group, with community leaders and community members. In consultation with some of the local church leaders, we have put out information about the opportunity for people who might have barriers to accessing the testing centres that are available here in Waterloo Region.”
As well, the Woolwich Community Health Centre has been operating mobile testing for these communities.
WCHC has also created a video, in English and low German, to explain to how to get tested for COVID-19 (www.wchc.on.ca).
According to Reist and public health statistics, areas with many Old Order Mennonites are currently seeing a rise in cases, especially in Woolwich and Wellesley townships. Woolwich Rural North has had a total of 104 cases, while Wellesley Rural
North has seen 85. In St. Jacobs, the numbers have been low, but the recent outbreak at Village Manor may mean additional transmission may have occurred.
Cambridge physician Sharon Bal, part of the region’s pandemic control group, notes there may be more cases in the rural areas than are being reported, advising all residents to take precautions.
“We are in the red zone in the public health units, and [we are asking] that people should follow orders to limit our activities... to do essential activities only. In addition, if you are symptomatic report that to public health, and self-isolate pending testing results,” she said. Because ... there’s not actually a declared outbreak, there are more cases in the rural townships, and certainly we think that that has to do with Mennonite community members.”
While many people, including those in the Mennonite communities, have been following public health guidelines, more of us need to follow suit, Bal added.
“Community members need to take immediate action. This is a situation where it is necessary to follow public health guidance.”
The region’s decision to issue a section 22 order related to Mennonite communities follows a similar move last month by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. That move forced the closure of Old Order Mennonite churches and schools, with officials noting that community’s uptake of public health measures had been low.
Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health and CEO of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, said the step was necessary.
“I do not take the issuing of section 22 orders lightly, but COVID-19 poses a serious health risk to the Old Order Mennonite Community and to all of us in the region. Sometimes we need to make difficult decisions to prevent the unchecked spread of this virus,” said Mercer in a release.