As more local businesses start to open the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is doing more to report the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
The health unit is going to start reporting any business where two or more employees test positive for COVID-19 within a reasonable timeframe to suspect transmission at the workplace.
"This disclosure will help the community understand better how the spread is happening and help us also to reinforce some of those important measures that we need to take when we are visiting any of these places. Because by the time there is any transmission happening in the workplace it is already too late. It is all of our responsibility that when we are visiting workplaces we are taking necessary precautions to protect ourselves," said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical Officer of Health for Windsor Essex.
Dr. Ahmed said each outbreak will be handled on a case by case basis.
"If you have two people who are COVID positive but they happen to be working for the same large employer in our region should that be an outbreak? Maybe, maybe not. I think the key determination would be if the transmission, if they infected one and the other at the workplace site," said Dr. Ahmed. "We need to make sure all the proper protocols are in place at the workplace."
Dr. Ahmed said they will shut down a place of business if they feel there is a risk to the community and the employer is not taking all the necessary steps to protect their employees and customers.
