CBC Windsor's April 7 COVID-19 update: 6 deaths in Windsor-Essex, 3 firefighters test positive

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unitreported on Tuesday there are now 227 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex and a total of six people have died in theregion.

The health unit said they are working with seven long term care and retirement homes in the area that are currently experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19.

Those homes are Extendicare Southwood Lakes with one staff member testing positive, Heron Terrace with four residents and two staff members testing positive, Riverside Place with two staff members testing positive, The Village at St. Clair with one staff member testing positive, Lifetimes on Riverside with two staff members and two residents testing positive, Amica with three residents and two staff members testing positive and Country Village Homes with 13 residents and 14 staff members testing positive for COVID-19.

WATCH | Windsor-Essex County Health Unit's April 7 COVID-19 update:

So far, 13 cases of COVID-19 in our area have been resolved.

Of the cases reported, the health unit provided a breakdown of how those people contracted the virus:

• 78 cases are due to travel
• 53 cases are due to close contact
• 52 cases are community acquired
• 44 cases are under investigation

About 75 of the confirmed cases in our area is in health-care workers. Another 73 confirmed cases are under investigation.

Here's what's happening in our area:

3 firefighters test positive for COVID-19

On Tuesday, Windsor fire Chief Stephen Laforet confirmed to CBC News that three firefighters have the virus and are isolating at home.

Laforet said he first learned of two initial cases sometime last week.The third case was confirmed Tuesday evening.

Two of three firefighters who tested positive were at Windsor Fire Station 5 on Northwood Street. The station is currently closed for cleaning, though Laforet said it won't remain closed "for a length of time."

No further information concerning travel history or method of infection was provided.

"We're still responding to [service] calls," said Laforet, adding random inspections have been slowed to avoid person-to-person contact, but complaint-based inspections are continuing to occur.

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Sarnia-Lambtonoutbreak

The health unit in Sarnia-Lambton reported 86confirmed cases and eight people have died in Lambton County.

Landmark Village seniors' home in Sarnia, Ont. is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak with at least six confirmed cases, including four deaths connected to the facility as of Wednesday.

Chatham-Kent cases

Chatham-Kent Public Health reports there are 17confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region and one person in that community has died.

Four of those 17people who were diagnosed have made a full recovery.

Who do you call if someone isn't following the rules?

The health unit said anyone with concerns about restaurants, bars, tobacco or vape shops that areopen when they shouldn't be, can contact thehealth unit.

Non-essential businesses being open, people who are not physicallydistancing, or groups of five or more people can be reported to3-1-1 in Windsor or local by-law offices in your municipality.

• Windsor-Essex residents wondering who to call for COVID-19 delinquencies

Anyone not self-isolating or quarantiningreport to non-emergency line for police services who will follow up with the health unit who can then issue an order if necessary.

Windsor health-care worker posts emotional thank-you to border officers

Jeffrey Rowe was heading back into Windsor, Ont., on Saturday night after working a hectic 12-hour hospital shift in Detroit, when he was stopped at the border for something very peculiar.

"I came through the tunnel, and there wasn't a lot of traffic, and when I went through the customs area, there was about two or three cars with their emergency lights on," said Rowe.

"I thought, 'Oh man, they're not going to let us back in the country' ... I was totally frightened."

Rowe is a respiratory therapist at Henry Ford Health System's Midtown Detroit hospitaland thoughthe might be turned back at the border. Instead, he saw something that shook him to the core.

"There was about 20 [officers], and they had these hand-written signs, welcoming us back into the country and they were cheering," said Rowe, who was shocked by the display fromthe normally stoic and very professional Canadian border officers.

"I rolled down my window and gave them the thumbs up and said, 'You guys are awesome.'

"To see these guys jump up and big smiles, just crazy. It just went right to my heart. I was crying all the way home."

WATCH | Rowe thanks border officers for his warm welcome:

Border health-care worker thanks Canadian officers

5 years ago

Duration 1:47

Respiratory therapist Jeffrey Rowe had a pleasant welcome home, after a long shift at a Detroit hospital.