Ontario deploys emergency team to farm outbreak

TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford says a team from the province’s emergency management agency has been deployed to Windsor-Essex to help address a large COVID-19 farm outbreak. He says Emergency Management Ontario will help co-ordinate care and housing for the191 workers on one farm who tested positive for the virus over the weekend.

He says the agency is also working with the Canadian Red Cross, farmers and local health officials as they respond to the outbreak.

Ford also apologized for criticizing migrant workers during his briefing Thursday, when he said they were hiding from efforts to retest them for COVID-19.

Ford says his comments were based on misinformation but declined to say how he received the erroneous report.

The deployment of emergency management staff comes after the region’s medical officer of health ordered a work stoppage at the unidentified greenhouse to protect workers from the virus.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed said Friday he may issue additional orders if there is further risk to workers on local farms.

“The evidence in this particular farm pointed to the fact that there is an ongoing risk,” he said. “And that risk needs to be mitigated and controlled to protect the workers ... and it may happen again, if there is any risk, and I don’t think that anyone would disagree.”

Ford, who has publicly lauded Ahmed in recent weeks, appeared to contradict and criticize the decision Thursday, saying the order will not encourage farmers to participate in efforts to combat the virus.

A group representing greenhouse growers in Ontario’s Windsor-Essex region said the work stoppage has escalated fears about testing for the virus.

The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers said in a statement the public health order has contributed to anxiety among both farmers and workers.

“As a result of the ... order we are seeing escalating fears and concerns from both employers and employees about being tested,” spokesperson Justine Taylor said.