Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, speaks with reporters on March 12, 2020. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, speaks with reporters on March 12, 2020. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Windsor

Medical Officer of Health calling for stronger cross border measures

The Medical Officer of Health for Windsor and Essex County is calling for more protocols for cross border workers as widespread community transmission of COVID-19 occurs in Detroit.

"We are requesting stronger actions by all levels of government to put together strong measures in place and restrict border travel for our community," said Ahmed.

There are currently 1,791 confirmed cases of the virus in Michigan, with 563 cases in Detroit, according to the Detroit Free Press. Two of the three positive cases identified in Windsor-Essex have connections to travel in Michigan in the last 14 days.

"We don't have much control if they work outside of Ontario. They may be required to go to work so we are asking for some stronger measures to control and limit those individuals crossing the border.  Because potentially with the widespread community transmission in Detroit and Michigan they may be exposed to individuals with COVID-19 and potentially bring it back to the community," said Ahmed.

Ahmed is also recommending health care workers not travel between facilities in the community. He says many local residents are employed at multiple long-term care facilities, but for the time being it is not worth spreading anything from one facility to the other with the vulnerable clientele they serve.

"It is important for the employers to recognize that there is this risk and they should be doing everything to prevent and mitigate those risks," said Ahmed.

As of Tuesday morning, 500 individuals in Windsor and Essex County have been tested for the virus. Three tests have come back positive and 329 results are still pending.

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