The Ontario government has announced that the Windsor-Essex region will be in Phase 2 of the province’s reopening plan for now.
“We are working hard with our federal and local partners to provide The Windsor-Essex communities with what they want when they reopen,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Christine Elliott said in a statement. “As the fitness and protection of other Ontario people is our most sensible priority, Windsor-Essex will remain in Stage 2 until it is known that they can move on to Stage 3.”
The government has known outbreaks in the agricultural sector as a specific fear in the region and “poses challenges.”
The province has deployed the Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) at Windsor-Essex for incident control and the government is also implementing a three-point plan at the area’s fitness office. This includes on-site testing, access to benefits and jobs, and express public aptitude recommendations to the agri-food community.
“We continue to take steps to address outbreaks in the region and supply our Windsor-Essex farmers and agricultural enterprises with the help, equipment and resources to ensure the protection and well-being of their staff and employees,” Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said in a statement. “We all run in combination to combat the spread of COVID-19 while protecting our important chain of food sources and the fitness and protection of others who put food on our tables.”