Stay home as much as possible, health unit urges
As efforts to contain COVID-19 heighten, the Windsor-essex County Health Unit is advising people to only venture out of residences for essential reasons.
“I am urging all residents of Windsor and Essex to avoid any non-essential trip and to stay home as much as possible,” said Dr. Wajid Hamed at the health unit offices Wednesday morning.
Non-essential travel outside of the region is especially discouraged, and work-from-home options should be discussed with employers.
Anyone who needs to be out and about should self-monitor for symptoms, including regularly checking their temperatures, Hamed said.
Hamed’s advice is not an order, and citizens are not under lockdown
But Hamed agreed his comments on Wednesday are more severe than previous recommendations.
“New cases are coming up across every region of Ontario,” he said. “We are lucky that we don’t have a confirmed case in Windsor-essex, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
As of Monday, 164 people in Windsor-essex have been tested for the coronavirus, with 103 test results pending.
So far, there have been zero positive tests in the city and region.
Across the border, the state of Michigan has had 65 confirmed cases.
Chatham-kent — the closest neighbouring region to Windsor-essex in Ontario — announced its first COVID -19 case on Wednesday.
“With the popping up of cases in all of these communities, I want to make sure that we are doing everything not to introduce any new case to our community,” Hamed said. “I would like to err on the side of caution.”
While travel outside of the community creates the greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19, even socializing within the community is a risk.
“Cut that out as much as possible,” Hamed said. “Especially any large gatherings, and (places where) you are unable to maintain social distancing.”
At Windsor Regional Hospital on Wednesday, chief of staff Dr. Wassim Saad reminded the public that only those who have recently travelled are being accepted for testing.
“When you come to our COVID assessment centre, there are strict criteria for who needs to be tested,” Saad said.
“You have to have a fever, or a cough or shortness of breath. But you also have to have travelled, at this time based on the criteria that’s outlined by Public Health Ontario.”
The restriction is necessary due to the hospital having a limited supply of swabs for tests.
“This is not just a local shortage. This is a worldwide shortage,” Saad said.
The federal government is working on fast-tracking approval of commercial testing kits, Saad said.
On Monday, Windsor Regional Hospital had just 100 kits. Another 150 were delivered Tuesday.
Saad said the number of people arriving at the assessment centre on the Windsor Regional Hospital Ouellette Campus is increasing on a daily basis.
On average, Windsor Regional Hospital has had to send away 50 per cent of those people due to them not fitting the testing criteria.
Saad said Windsor Regional Hospital is ready to open a second assessment centre located at the Metropolitan Campus once approval has been given by the Ministry of Health.
“Right now, we’re able to handle the volumes that are coming thorough our (Ouellette Campus) assessment centre,” he said.