Windsor-Essex Third COVID-19 Case Confirmed
Monday, March 23, 2020 | 3:30 p.m. | Windsor-Essex County
Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical Officer of Health confirmed the third positive case of COVID-19 in the Windsor and Essex County (WEC) region March 23rd, 2020. This third case is not connected to the previous two cases in Windsor-Essex and is travel related.
The third case is a male in his late 40’s that returned to Windsor after recent travel in the United States. The individual developed symptoms on March 15 and was tested at Windsor Regional Hospital’s COVID-19 Assessment and Testing Centre having met the current criteria for testing.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) was notified of the positive result on March 23rd. The individual works in Michigan and resides in WEC. He has been self-isolating since the onset of symptoms and is currently recovering at home. Close contacts of the client that reside in WEC have been contacted, are self-isolating, and currently have no symptoms. The WECHU will also work with local public health authorities in Michigan to contact individuals considered close contacts living outside of our local community to ensure appropriate public health actions are taken. This case is not related to any of the previously reported cases.
The WECHU follows all individuals in the community that have been tested for COVID-19, including contacting individuals in isolation regularly. Public Health conducts contract tracing for anyone under investigation for COVID-19. Anyone who is a contact will be contacted directly by the WECHU.
The WECHU continues to monitor the situation locally, and strongly recommends that residents minimize close contact with those outside their immediate family to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. All residents should practice social distancing and self-isolate if they have travelled outside of Canada.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often
- Cough and sneeze into a tissue or sleeve, and wash your hands
- Keep surfaces clean and disinfected
- Stay home when you are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Practice social distancing
Contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at 519-258-2146 ext. 1420 if you have fever, cough, or breathing difficulty AND any of the following:
You have travelled outside of Canada in the 14 days before onset of illness;
OR
Close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19; or
Close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who travelled to affected areas within the 14 days prior to their illness onset.
All returning travelers from outside of Canada are reminded to self-isolate for 14-days, do not go to work, and monitor for symptoms. Individuals who suspect they have COVID-19 can consult the COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool on the Ontario Government site.
