Jail outbreak over after 56 days

A COVID-19 outbreak declared at Windsor's jail April 23 has been rescinded. The Windsor-essex County Health Unit declared the outbreak over on Friday, 56 days after it began, following a two-week period without any new cases among staff or inmates at the South West Detention Centre. During the outbreak, roughly 16 staff and inmates had tested positive for COVID-19. “It took us some time to rescind the outbreak in the South West Detention Centre partly because of the way all of these cases are reported and the testing protocols,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed. New inmates admitted to the jail who tested positive but likely contracted COVID-19 while in the general community contributed to the outbreak's longevity, he said. “That leaves that question mark, whether this person acquired COVID in the facility or maybe acquisition was outside,” Ahmed said. “So it took us a little bit longer to clarify all of those details.”