Paramedics test positive; COVID-19 outbreak declared at Essex-Windsor EMS base

Ten Essex-Windsor paramedics have tested positive for COVID-19, two of which are connected to an outbreak at one of the organization's facilities.

Essex-Windsor EMS said in a statement that theparamedics did not have any contact with the public or patients. They're now recovering at home.

"It's concerning because we don't have an infinite amount of staff to staff the ambulances," said Bruce Krauter, chief of Essex-Windsor EMS."This is my worry, as it grows we may lose resources and lose ambulances."

Eight of the cases are not linked to the outbreak or exposure through work, said the service. Instead they're the result of community transmission.

"There is absolutely no evidence of patient-to-paramedic or paramedic-to-patient transmission of the virus," reads a statement announcing the outbreak.

"Paramedics are not immune to COVID," said Krauter.

"It's a reminder to everybody ...to maintain their vigilance as we get into wave two."

COVID-19 presentsa physical strain on paramedicsas well as a mental drain after 10 months of vigilance and protecting themselves with PPE, said the chief.

Paramedics started receiving the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine last week. Krauter said they're staggering shifts and sending groups to get the shot with the expectation of getting the entire force vaccinated by the end of next week.

There are currently 45 COVID-19 outbreaks within Windsor-Essex, including two at Windsor Regional Hospital, 21 at seniors' homes and 19 at workplaces.

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared last weekat the Windsor Police Service.

Krauter said Essex-Windsoris currently seeing a loss of three to five per cent of its staff. If those numbers rise to 40 or 50 per cent, paramedics will have to start pulling back its services to focus on responding to 911 and emergency calls.

"That's my Alamo, of getting back and making sure we have ambulances to respond," he said, referencing the famousstand in Texas.

"When we get up to that higher percentage loss rate that's when we start rolling back services."