Windsor-Essex health unit to impose new order on violating COVID-19 isolation

The top public health doctor in Windsor-Essex is imposing new penalties for those who violate COVID-19 isolation requirements.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, said he's issuing a new order effective Feb. 1 to compel people to follow the health unit's guidance.

The order applies to anyone in Windsor-Essexwith COVID-19, anyone symptomatic and awaiting test results, anyone identified as a close contact and anyone with symptoms or reason to believe they may have the virus.

They are required to isolate without delay and remain away from others,provide information regardingtheir close contactsand follow public health instructions.

Anyone in violation could face a fine of $5,000, but Ahmed said the goal of the order isnot to issue fines but serveas a clear message.

He said in most cases, people are obeying the health unit's guidance, but not universally.

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"There were some rare instances where we learned that the individual basically dismissed the diagnosis and continued to stay outside and by the time we followedup with them, it's already too late," he said.

People have also been violating guidance to stay home while awaiting test results.

Ahmeddescribed the new order as another tool to curb the spread of the virus, and noted that he's imposing it as a morecontagious variant of COVID-19 has been affecting other parts ofthe province, though not yet in Windsor-Essex.

There were 53 new cases of COVID-19 announced in the region on Thursdayand one additionaldeath, a man in his 70s.

The total number of cases the region has seen is nowapproaching 12,000,of which 821 are active.

There are 48 cases of COVID-19 within the agrifarm sector, and 157 cases at long-term care and retirement homes.

WECHU CEO and chief nursing officer Theresa Marentette said the health unit anticipates rescinding several of the 17 outbreaks at seniors' homes next week.

The number of people in hospital stands at 92 with 12 in intensive care.

48outbreaks remain active

Of the 53 new cases announced Thursday, 12 are linked to outbreaks, sixwerecommunity acquired, nine areclose contacts of confirmed cases and one is related to international travel.The rest are under investigation.

There are 48 outbreaks active in the region, including five between Windsor Regional Hospital and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

Outbreaks areactive at 26workplaces:

• Seven in Leamington's agriculturalsector.
• Six in Kingsville's agriculturalsector.
• One in Leamington's food and beverage sector
• Fourin Windsor's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Kingsville's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Tecumseh'shealth care and social assistance sector.
• Three in Windsor's manufacturing sector.
• One in a retail setting in Essex.
• One in a retail setting in Lakeshore.
• One in a transportation and warehousing setting in Windsor.

There are 17 active outbreaks at long-term care and retirement facilities:

• Franklin Gardens in Leamington with eightresident cases and one staff case
• Heron Terrace in Windsor with tworesident cases and one staff case.
• Chartwell Leamingtonwith two resident cases and twostaff case.
• Regency Park in Windsor with 16resident cases and nine staff cases.
• Chartwell Royal Marquis in Windsorwith threeresident cases and one staff case.
• Devonshire Retirement Residence in Windsor, with 47resident cases and sevenstaff cases.
• Rosewood Erie Glen in Leamington, with 41resident cases and eightstaff cases.
• Augustine Villas in Kingsville, with 65resident and 18staff cases.
• Sunrise Assisted Living of Windsor, with 15resident cases and eight staff cases.
• Huron Lodge in Windsor, with 47resident cases and 25staff cases.
• Sun Parlor Home in Leamington with tworesident cases and 13staff cases.
• Banwell Gardens Care Centre in Windsor, with 115resident cases and 65staff cases.
• The Shoreview at Riverside in Windsor, with 30resident cases and 16staff cases.
• Extendicare Tecumseh, with 90 resident cases and 57staff cases.
• Berkshire Care Centre in Windsor, with 98resident and 62staff cases.
• The Village at St. Clair in Windsor, with 169resident cases and 136staff cases.
• Village of Aspen Lake in Tecumseh, with 65resident cases and 33staff cases.