NO CONFIRMED INFECTIONS
Health unit says COVID-19 test kits in short supply
Tests remain ongoing, but there remain no confirmed local cases of COVID-19 as of Friday afternoon, said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health Windsor-essex County Health Unit.
“We continue to have no cases in Windsor and Essex County,” Ahmed said during an update provided with officials at city hall. “We are monitoring the situation very closely with all our partners in the health sector. Every day we are learning something new on this disease.
“In the absence of any (confirmed cases), our risk assessment continues to remain low. In the event that changes we will alert all our partners and the media.”
While the risk remains low, so does the number of available test kits for coronavirus, Ahmed said.
He indicated there remains ongoing conversations with provincial health authorities to acquire more test kits, “but so is every other health unit in the province.”
“There is a shortage throughout the province and country, so we are co-ordinating with the (Health) Ministry and local health-care providers to ensure people who really need to be tested are tested,” Ahmed said.
Risk and assessment centres for COVID-19 are being set up across the province and Ahmed expects there might be one established locally within the next week. There are discussions that a centre could be established as early as Monday involving Windsor Regional Hospital.
For anyone who is experiencing symptoms of concern, the first thing they need to do is “self-isolate” at home, he said. Keeping a distance of two metres from anyone, attempt to stay in one room and do not share a bathroom, if possible.
The next step is to call their health-care provider or, if they do not have one, call the Windsor-essex County health unit, Ahmed said.
The health unit is being swamped as “never before in our history” with up to 500 calls each day from residents with staff doing their best to respond, he said.
“We have seconded staff from other programs to answer calls,” Ahmed said. “We are trying our best to get to every call. If we need more people, we will try to do that. But there are also so many other things happening and other diseases in this community.”
When asked about the status of the Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare physician and family members who displayed symptoms after a return from a cruise, Ahmed cited privacy but also emphasized there remain no positive results in Windsor for COVID-19.
Test results can take between two to three days to be returned from the lab.
Asked about the ongoing panic of people raiding local food stores and pharmacies, Ahmed called for calm.
“The likelihood of spreading right now is still low,” he said. “Having some supplies for any emergency is a good idea, but people need to recognize they should do so gradually. Don’t rush and grab everything you can find. There are many people in need, especially when it comes to medicines, so only take what you need.
“People need to get out of this anxiety state and social media is not helping. If the risk of transmission in the community changes, we will be the first to tell you. When it comes to supplies, don’t panic, take a deep breath.”
Meanwhile, officials with the City of Windsor announced closure of some municipal facilities, added screening at others and limited hours at some locations.
All of the city’s Early ON Centres designed for children up to age three will remain closed until at least April 5.
There will also be tightened access to Huron Lodge with screening of all visitors who will also be limited to one per resident at any given time.
Adventure Bay will remain open during March Break under “special measures” that include two separate sessions per day with a maximum of 250 per session. The first will be between 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day and the second from 3:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Enhanced cleaning will be in place and some attractions may be closed on a rotation basis.
Parents are being asked to use their own discretion whether to attend the water park or any of the city’s recreation facilities which will continue to remain open, said Jan Wilson, the city’s executive director of recreation and culture.
“Parents should feel comfortable based on their own individual situation,” she said. “We made these decisions based on the local situation and speaking with the medical officer of health. We feel it’s safe and appropriate to allow continued use. If the information changes, we will change things immediately.”