BlackburnNews.com file photo.BlackburnNews.com file photo.
Windsor

Majority of new COVID-19 cases linked to agri-farm workers

The Windsor Essex County Health Unit is reporting 23 new cases of COVID-19 in the region with 14 of the cases connected to the agri-food sector.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said the cases are not only among the temporary foreign workers, but the community members who work in these facilities. Ahmed said they connect with every positive case to ensure that they are self-isolating and that all of their close contacts are promptly tested. Dr. Ahmed said health inspectors have conducted over 100 inspections on housing accommodations for temporary-foreign workers.

He said while the health unit has the responsibility to inspect housing accommodations of the temporary foreign workers, it is the Ministry of Health that inspects workplaces with reported cases.

"It is a workplace, it is not something that is managed by any level of government. These are private workplaces and the ownership and responsibility of all these workplaces are to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees," said Dr. Ahmed.

The weekly epidemiological report shows most of the cases in Windsor-Essex are a result of close contact and not community transmission. The case doubling rate has slowed and each new case is resulting in less than one additional case.

To date, 16,374 people in Windsor-Essex have been tested, the health unit is waiting for 1,066 test results. There have been 950 confirmed cases. Of those, 495 have recovered and 63 people have passed away.

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