Windsor International Airport. (Photo by Alexandra Latremouille) Windsor International Airport. (Photo by Alexandra Latremouille)
Windsor

Medical Officer of Health clarifies self-isolation for returning travelers

As more travellers return home from March Break, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is reminding people what it means to go into self-isolation.

At his now daily news conference, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed reminded residents that anyone who has travelled must remain in their home for 14 days.

"It is absolutely important for these travellers to self-isolate themselves to protect their own family and to protect the entire community," said Ahmed. "Self-isolation means you do not go to work,  you do not go outside your home, you do not go for groceries, you do not have any visitors inside your home."

Anyone who is self-isolating and needs essential supplies is required to use online delivery services or ask a friend or family member to drop off groceries without physically interacting with them.

To encourage more people to stay at home, the health unit has ordered the closure of all retail shops and personal service providers like hair salons and spas. All restaurants and bars are also closed with the exception of those offering take-out or delivery.

There are currently two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex. Dr. Ahmed said both are recovering from home in self-isolation. All close contacts with the positive cases have also been told to self-isolate.

In total, 383 people have been tested in Windsor-Essex. Only 119 of those have received their test results back. Dr. Ahmed said he expects the lab in London to start receiving specimens on Monday which should improve the wait times for test results. Currently, people are waiting for up to seven days to receive their results. Anyone who has been tested for the virus is told to self-isolate as a precaution.

There are 1,471 confirmed cases of the virus in Canada with 425 of those in Ontario. In Michigan, there are 1,035 confirmed cases with 325 cases in Detroit.

Health care workers who cross the border for work are being encouraged to limit interactions with their family and other members of the community as much as possible as there is widespread community transmission in Detroit.

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