Joint Statement on COVID-19 Management at Lakeside Produce
Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 | 3:30 p.m.
Today, Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical Officer of Health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, and Lakeside Produce Chief Operating Officer, Sudeshna Nambiar, are issuing a joint statement regarding the management of COVID-19 at Lakeside Produce.
In light of the recent media related to agriculture production and COVID-19 in southwest Ontario, the WECHU and Lakeside Produce are sharing their work on case management of COVID-19, enhancing workplace safety, and monitoring to limit the spread of infectious disease in our community. Lakeside Produce located in Leamington, Ontario, is one of the areas long time producers of fresh produce with a large workforce of both year-round and temporary foreign workers.
Lakeside Produce and the WECHU have worked closely together since April 1st when the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed among an employee. In total, there have been 13 cases of COVID-19 among workers at Lakeside Produce. Ten of the thirteen cases have recovered, and all were close contacts of each other. The cases were sporadic in nature and are not linked to any travel rather community-acquired. This investigation demonstrates the importance of health and safety processes and procedures in all workplaces and adhering to public health guidance.
Workplace safety during the pandemic is vital to limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our local community. To date, the agri-businesses in our region have done an outstanding job with implementing health and safety procedures and adhering to public health recommendations. The WECHU is committed to supporting our local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health and safety of both workers and the community.
“As the province moves towards re-opening businesses, we are reminded that everyone in the workplace has roles and responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that if you are not feeling well, you do not go to work to prevent the spread of infection in the workplace.” – Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical Officer of Health.
Chief Operating Officer of Lakeside Produce, Sudeshna Nambiar says “We are doing well and continue to strive for excellence with the guiding assistance and support from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Produce Marketing Association, Canadian Produce Marketing Association and Joe Sbrocchi and his team from Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. It is not only Lakeside Produce, we are all in this together.
Last year we created a Bio-security team to combat potential virus, whether they be plant or human related. Safety and protection of our employees continues to remain our TOP PRIORITY with an extension to our community.
In order to feed the world, we are fiercely determined to take care of our people – because they are our world.”
