CBC Windsor May 28 COVID-19 update: 7 new cases all in farm workers

The Windsor Essex County Health Unit reported seven new cases of COVID-19, all in people who work in the region's "agri-farm" industry.

No new deaths were reported.

Medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said the new cases happened at a farm already being investigated by the health unit.

"All these cases are in individuals that are in close contact in shared accommodation," he said, adding that the seven new cases still need to be investigated as to how those individuals contracted the disease.

The health unit issued a class order Wednesday to try to fight that spread. All farm employees, including contract workers, must work exclusively at one workplace as of Wednesday. The health unit said the order didn't come sooner because a risk assessment needed to be carried out first.Failure to comply with the order can result in fines of up to $5,000.

Two long-term care homes in our region remain under a COVID-19 outbreak, as 17 other seniors' facilities have been cleared.

Random testing rolls out Friday

Last week, the health unitannounced thatrandom COVID-19 testing will be rolling out in Windsor-Essex, with a goal of havingprimary care providersand clinics able to do testing in their offices eventually. The health unit said the random testing will begin Friday.

"We will be offering a combination of a drive-thru testing and a trailer-based testing at different locations across Windsor and Essex," Ahmed said last week.

WATCH | The health unit's COVID-19 update for May 28 live at 9 a.m.:

Roughly, the health unit is looking for1,300 samples in the City of Windsor and 2,300 to 2,400 across the region.

"The plan is to start with Windsor and head out to the county with one session in each municipality," Ahmed said on Thursday.

Anyonewill beable to receive testing at these sites,run by the Windsor Essex County Health Unit and Essex Windsor EMS. Ahmed said having a health card is highly recommended, but not required.

The health unit wants to closely monitor the spread of the virus as restrictions start to lessen across the province.

Doctors' offices bracing for influx

As the province starts to reopen and elective surgeries are given rescheduling dates, a local official says doctor's offices across Windsor-Essex should expect to see an increased patient intake.

Nearly all scheduled surgeries including cancer surgeries, heart operations, organ transplants and hip replacements were postponedunder a provincial order issued in March. Two weeks agothe government said those surgeries, which are often called elective to distinguish them from emergency surgeries,could resumeif a hospital meets certain criteria.

But according to the president of the Essex County Medical Society our local branch of the Ontario Medical Associationthat will also come with an increased usage of community services as well.

"We are working together with the hospitals to try and open up primary care practices, family physicians' offices andnurse practitioners' offices to be able to accommodate this increase in hospital usage and also the increase in patients who would be coming to us anyway, " said Dr. Jennifer Bondy, who also works as a family physician for the Amherstburg Family Health Team.

Ahmedsaidas non-essential health services start up, health care providers will have to do risk assessments to ensure safety of clients and workers.

"What this means for the public is that the services that have been put on hold or you've been waiting will be provided," said Ahmed."It will take time for the healthcare providers to put all those necessary controls in place."

Things like barriers, sanitation stations, and patient screening are some of the examples the health unit suggested will be needed in health care offices.

Testing centres open 7 days a week

The health unit said testing is available at two assessment centres in Windsor-Essex. People that have at least one symptom of the virus, and people who are asymptotic but are at risk of contracting the virus can be tested.

Windsor Regional Hospital has extended hours for the assessment centre at theOuellette Campus next to the Emergency Department. That site has seen record numbers of people come in for testing with319 visiting on Wednesday.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Theassessment centre at Erie Shores HealthCareis open from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton

Lambton Public Health reported 261confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region. Overall, 22people have died and 190people have recovered from the disease.

Anoutbreak atVision Nursing Home in Sarniahas worsened with 24residents testing positive for the disease and 20staff members. Anotherresident at the home has died. Sevenresidents in total have died at Vision Nursing Home.

An outbreak at Marshall Gowland Manor long-term care home in Sarniahas also been reported, withone resident testing positive.

Village On The St. Clair retirement home in Sarnia is also experiencing an outbreak, as two residents there tested positive for COVID-19.

On Monday,Lambton Meadowview Villa in Petroliacame under outbreak again after one staff member tested positive for COVID-19. A previous outbreak at the facility, also involving one staff member, was reported as being over April 23.

COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent

Chatham-Kent's health unit reported 144cases of COVID-19 for that community, with the majority of them linked to an outbreak at Greenhill Produce.

There are now 100workers at the facility who have tested positive for COVID-19.An outbreak was investigated at the end of April, when about 40 cases of the disease were discovered among workers at the greenhouse operation.

Only fiveof those cases are still active, according to CK Public Health. Another 95workers have recovered.

In Chatham-Kent, one person has died due to COVID-19 and 134people have recovered.