CBC Windsor June 9 COVID-19 update: 43 new cases

The Windsor Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) reported 43 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, with 34 of those cases in "workerstested as part of proactive testing related to case and contact management"in our area.

No new deaths were reported.

"The initiative from Ontario Health and supported by local health system partners to do mass testing in agri-food sector and the drive-thru testing led by WECHU will lead to a temporary rise in the number of new cases in our region," said medical officer of healthDr. Wajid Ahmed, in a media statement.

A seniors' home in the region is back under a COVID-19 outbreak after previously being cleared.

Country Village Homes, a long-term care home inWoodslee, is back under an outbreak after one staff member tested positive for the disease.

The health unit announced Monday they would no longer be providing daily COVID-19 live updates each morning, and would instead provide current numbers through its website. A live video update will occur on Friday's when medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed presents the epidemiologicalsummary report for our region.

Random testing will be available in LaSalleon Tuesday at theVollmer Complex from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The drive-thru testing sites will be available onWednesday in Lakeshore andThursday in Leamington.

Over the weekend, 15 new cases of COVID-19 were reported for our area.

One more person has died from the disease a 24-year-old migrant farm worker. His death occurred over the weekend.

Province's phase 2 reopening begins, but not in Windsor-Essex

As the provincial government moves ahead with the second phase of its reopening plan,Windsor-Essex is among the regions that will need to wait.

On Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced 24 of Ontario's 34 public health units will be allowed to move into Phase 2. In those areas, restaurants, bars and food trucks will be able to open for outdoor dining on patios and in parking lots or adjacent premises.

• Windsor-Essex among regions left out of province's second reopening stage

Windsor-Essex, however, is among the 10 health unit regions not included on thelist.

On Tuesday, Ahmed told CBC News that he advises against Windsorites travelling to other regions that are re-opening, unless essential. He added that people should consider the risks involved and be responsible.

However, as of Fridaythe restriction on social gatherings will increasefrom no more than five people up to10 people. This is effective across the province including Windsor-Essex.

Places of worship are also allowed to open as long as physical distancing is met and attendance is no more than 30 per cent of the building capacity at any given time.

Assessment centre for migrant workers opens, following 2 COVID-19 deaths

As migrant workers plead for a safer work environment in Canada, anew COVID-19 assessment centre where health-care workers will swab, test and provide care for about 8,000 workers in the region is opening its doors.

The centre at the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre formerlyLeamington's recreational complex will aim to test about 500 to 600 workers per day. They'll arrive on a bus to have their temperature checked and getswabbed for the virus.

If a worker is deemed symptomatic, they will be attended to by a nurse practitioner or physician in a makeshift clinic within the assessmentcentre.If not, they will get back on the bus.

• Exploitation, abuse, health hazards rise for migrant workers during COVID-19, group says

"Our assessment centre in town has been open for a couple of months already, but may not be easily accessible to people who don't have easy transportation or are working during the day," said Dr. Ross Moncur, interim CEO for Erie Shores HealthCare.

Windsor-Essex's migrant worker situation has emphasizedthe need for systemic changes, said Ahmed, which includes assessing workers' accommodations, along with managing language and culture barriers.

In theshort-term, Ahmed said they are focused on immediate supportslike contact-tracing and management of cases.

Testing centres open 7 days a week

The health unit said testing is available at two assessment centres in Windsor-Essex. People that have at least one symptom of the virus, and people who are asymptomatic but are at risk of contracting the virus can be tested.

Windsor Regional Hospital has went back to usual testing hours, after briefly extending them due to an increase in the volume of people looking to be tested.

Theassessment centre at theOuellette Campus next to the Emergency Departmentis open9 a.m. to 6p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Theassessment centre at Erie Shores HealthCareis open from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton

Lambton Public Health reported 270confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region. Overall, 25people have died.

Another 229people have recovered.

Anoutbreak atVision Nursing Home in Sarnia continues with 26 residents in total testingpositive for the disease and 27staff members.

Ten residents in total have died at Vision Nursing Home.

COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent

Chatham-Kent's health unit reported 148cases of COVID-19 for that community, with the majority of them linked to an outbreak at Greenhill Produce.

There are now 103workers at the facility who have tested positive for COVID-19.An outbreak was investigated at the end of April, when about 40 cases of the disease were discovered among workers at the greenhouse operation.

Only threeof those cases are still active, according to CK Public Health. Another 100workers have recovered.

In Chatham-Kent, one person has died due to COVID-19 and 140people have recovered.

A mobile drive-thru for COVID-19 testing will take place in Wallaceburgfrom Thursday to Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The clinic is for anyone wishing to be swabbed and will belocated in thefront parking lot of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance'sWallaceburgsite at 325 Margaret Avenue.

Those seeking to receive a testare required to bring a valid health card.