Public health officials say more testing will not help Windsor-Essex advance to Stage 2 of reopening the economy.
When Premier Doug Ford announced the region would stay in Stage 1, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens called out local public health officials for not mandating testing of migrant farmworkers. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed and Windsor Essex County Health Unit Board Chair Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara said this is not the solution.
"We need workplaces and municipalities to support isolation facilities for workers so that if testing is completed, there is a plan to accommodate the isolation needs of these workers," said Dr. Ahmed.
On Tuesday, the health unit announced another 32 cases of COVID-19, 30 of which are linked to the agri-farm sector. There are currently outbreaks at 10 agricultural businesses in Leamington and Kingsville. Over the course of the pandemic, the community has seen 1,361 cases with around 420 linked to the agri-farm sector.
Dr. Ahmed said the more tests that are completed, the more cases will be identified. If the newly identified cases are not housed in adequate isolation facilities, the virus will continue to spread.
"In order for us to move forward I think we all need to do a better job in containing the disease, which we are, but we also need to think about what are the other ways that we can support the ongoing work," said Dr. Ahmed.
McNamara is calling on public officials to support the health unit and the work its staff are doing to help protect the community.
"It is public health that has connected with thousands of people in our community who have tested and or exposed to COVID-19 and walked them through this day in and day out. Instead of pointing fingers, we should be thanking them for the work and asking them what they need," said McNamara.
Dr. Ahmed said they continue to work with federal and provincial officials to complete inspections of workplaces and migrant worker accommodations to protect the food supply chain and the health and safety of the workers.
