Greenhouse near Windsor, Ont. reports 191 coronavirus cases

WINDSOR, ONT. — The Windsor-essex County Health Unit effectively shut down one of the biggest greenhouse growers in the region Wednesday after reporting 191 new COVID-19 cases at the farm.

Multiple sources identified the farm as Nature Fresh in Leamington, which volunteered to have its workers tested.

A health unit news release did not state explicitly that public health had closed the farm. But it cited the 191 cases, the result of a targeted testing campaign led by Ontario Health, and said:

“Given the size of this outbreak, the potential for COVID-19 transmission, and the ongoing risk to the health and safety of the workers, medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed is issuing an order under section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion

Act . . . effective July 1. The order requires the owner/ operator of the farm to ensure the isolation of workers and prohibits them from working until further direction.”

The health unit did not identify the farm, but the United Food and Commercial Workers said Wednesday that workers from Nature Fresh, which grows tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, told it that a supervisor told them the company had been shut down.

“They were told that the company has been ordered to shut down their operation,” said Santiago Escobar, a UFCW national representative. “The workers said they have to (isolate) 14 days.”

He said workers told him late Wednesday that the facility is being disinfected.

The health unit was not available to comment further. Nature Fresh owner Peter Quiring could not be reached for comment.

The health unit news release stated that “the safety and well-being of all workers is our top priority. It is imperative that we stop the transmission of COVID-19 in this farm and our agricultural sector. All affected workers must be isolated and their health and wellbeing be monitored before any return to work can be discussed.”

The total number of workers who must isolate and the plan for how to do that isn’t completely clear yet, said Claudia den Boer, one of the leaders of the response to the crisis.

But one worker told Escobar that he is experiencing a fever, cough and headaches and is being isolated in a hotel room.

“He is very concerned because he’s by himself in a hotel room,” Escobar said. “He wants to be moved to a hospital.”

Any worker who tests positive for the virus will be covered by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits, said Justine Taylor of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.