There are now three outbreaks of COVID-19 at local long-term care homes.
Health officials announced on Thursday that staff members at Lifetimes on Riverside in Windsor have tested positive for the virus. The announcement comes less than 24 hours after staff members at Country Village Homes in Woodslee and AMICA in Windsor tested positive as well. Several residents at the homes are also displaying respiratory symptoms.
As per the Ministry of Health, a single laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in a resident or a staff member is considered an outbreak at facilities such as long-term care homes.
The nursing homes have implemented outbreak management protocols.
There are now 128 people in Windsor-Essex who have tested positive for the virus. Meanwhile, health officials are still waiting for the results of 268 tests.
"The likelihood that someone who developed respiratory symptoms, that is a new onset of cough and fever, in our community to have COVID-19 at this point is very high," said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed. "At this stage, if you are someone who thinks you have COVID-19, please contact your health care provider for a telemedicine assessment."
Those with pre-existing conditions or those whose case management may change because of test results will be prioritized for testing. Dr. Ahmed says 80 per cent of people who contract COVID-19 have mild symptoms and can recover at home without medical intervention.
According to Windsor Regional Hospital, there are 15 people currently admitted to hospital who have tested positive. There are another 15 people with symptoms waiting for their test results.