March 17 Windsor-Essex Public Health Updates Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit continues to work with the Ministry of Health, local health care providers, and municipal partners to monitor and coordinate the response to COVID-19 as the situation evolves in the province and the community. Protecting the health and wellbeing of the residents of Windsor and Essex County remains our top priority.
- To date, we have 0 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex.
- Overall, 93 individuals have been tested for COVID-19; and 37 tests are pending.
- There are 441 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada and 177 cases in Ontario.
An initial COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool has been posted to the Ontario Government site. Individuals who suspect they have COVID-19 can consult this tool to determine whether and how to seek further care.
What is happening locally?
Many of levels of government, agencies and professional organizations released strong advice, recommendations, and orders in the last 24 hours as we continue to prepare and respond to COVID-19. While these recommendations and decisions are difficult, they are all made to mitigate risks and slow the spread of the virus. Time is critical in the fight to contain the spread of COVID-19. The focus must move to essential services and anything non-essential reconsidered to maintain and enable social distancing in communities and the declaration by the province as a state of emergency moves us forward in a consistent approach to risk mitigation.
Social distancing includes maintaining a 2-meter distance between yourself and others and restricting close contact to immediate family and caregivers. To adhere to this advice, many dental offices are cancelling non-emergency services, hospitals are ramping down elective procedures and sports organizations and municipalities have cancelled events and closed their doors, all to do their part to protect the public and limit the spread of disease.
The recommendations and guidance of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario and Medical Officer of Health for Windsor-Essex were strengthened this morning with an order from the Provincial Government.
