Workers harvest grapes at a farm. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / gina_sanders. Workers harvest grapes at a farm. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / gina_sanders.
Windsor

COVID-19 outbreak identified at local farm

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is reporting an outbreak at a farm in the county.

There were 21 new cases of COVID-19 identified in the region with 17 cases linked to the farm. The other cases are close contacts of previously confirmed cases.

CEO Theresa Marentette said the outbreak started with one individual and spread to other workers sharing a bunkhouse.

"We were aware of one case in the farm and, as is our practice, we looked at the close contacts which are essentially in bunkhouses. So all of the high-risk close contacts would be isolated and also tested and it's a result of that testing that the numbers have increased," said Marentette.

More testing is being completed among the workers so there could be more cases identified at the farm.

The new cases bring the number of active cases in the region up to 57.

Testing turnaround has improved over the last week. Around 700 people a day have been tested in the region and around 64 per cent of people are getting their results within two days. Last week, less than 50 per cent of people received results in two days.

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