Windsor-Essex remains the only Ontario region at Stage One of reopening.
Premier Doug Ford confirmed on Monday afternoon previous reports that Windsor-Essex will stay at Stage One, at least for the time being. The region remains the last one in Ontario staying at this phase.
"We have to do it right, and unfortunately, the threat of the virus in Windsor-Essex is still too real," Ford said in his remarks at Queens Park.
The city of Toronto and the Peel Region will be allowed to enter Stage 2 as of Wednesday morning.
The news comes hours after the local health unit reported 32 new cases of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex. Of the 32 new cases, 31 are connected to the local agri-food industry.
Ford and Minister of Health Christine Elliott praised the efforts of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit to increase testing, but the premier did express disappointment at what he perceived as a lack of effort from area farmers in making sure migrant workers are tested.
"There's no secret I love the farmers," said Ford. "But, guys, you've got to help us here. I'll just tell it the way it is, farmers just aren't cooperating. They aren't sending out the people to get tested, and we have to bang our heads off the wall and figure out why. It's good for the farmers, good for the workers, good for the food supply chain on safety. And we can't force anyone to get testing."
Elliott said the Ministry of Health will provide support to the Windsor-Essex health unit with the ultimate goal of moving Windsor-Essex to Stage 2 as soon as it is safe to do so. The Ministry will continue an aggressive on-site testing approach, conduct over 200 inspections of workplaces, translate public health documents and pamphlets into Spanish, and team up with federal inspectors to assess living quarters for workers on farms.
The ministry has also announced it will set aside $15 million for the Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection program, which provides cost-share funding to improve employee and workplace health and safety. The money can be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), put up physical barriers, make housing modifications, or provide alternate housing.
The premier did say that overall, new cases in Ontario continue to trend down. For the eighth day in a row, Ontario reported a new caseload of fewer than 200. A total of 161 new cases was reported Monday with just three deaths.
