The Ontario government has stated that Windsor-Essex will be in Phase 2 of Ontario’s COVID-19 reopening strategy for the time being, making it one of the last places in Canada to obtain soft green to ease strict blocking restrictions.
In its announcement Tuesday, the Ontario government said Windsor-Essex would participate in Stage 3 reopening due to persistent outbreaks among agricultural and agri-food workers.
Windsor-Essex is the last region in Ontario to move on to Stage 3. Toronto and Peel Region moved on to Stage 3 on Friday. Although the province and territory have another reopening system, Windsor-Essex remains one of Canada’s most lagging regions in terms of COVID-19.
Windsor-Essex reported 2,350 cases and deaths from COVID-19. There were 10 instances of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
In Ontario, Stage 2 means that other people can move to places like places of worship, outdoor restaurants, and some non-public care facilities, but they will have to restrict social gatherings to 10 other people and maintain a physical distance. Stage 3 would allow reopening places such as gyms, indoor restaurants and many facial and spa facilities.
This resolution to maintain the domain to monitor the local transmission of COVID-19 was made in consultation with the Ontario Medical Director of Health, the Medical Director of Health of Windsor-Essex, other fitness experts and local authorities.
“We are working hard with our federal and local partners to provide The Windsor-Essex communities with what they want when they reopen,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said in the announcement. “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.”
Ontario deployed the Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) at Windsor-Essex in July to provide incident control assistance and coordination with the region’s fitness sector. The province is also implementing a three-point plan to reduce the threat of transmission on farms and the community. Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Ernie Hardeman said the plan includes expanded on-site testing, access to benefits and employment aids, and public aptitude recommendations expressed to the agri-food community.
“We continue to take steps to deal with outbreaks in the region and supply our farmers and agricultural enterprises in Windsor-Essex with the help, equipment and resources they want to ensure the protection and well-being of their staff and employees,” Hardeman said. “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.”
It is unclear when Windsor-Essex will enter Stage 3 of the reopening. The announcement indicated that public fitness experts will continue to monitor and largely assess local trends in key public fitness indicators, adding reduced COVID-19 transmission, good enough hospital capacity, public conditioning capacity to temporarily manage instances and contacts, and higher tests, before to indicate when the region can safely move to Stage 3. »
Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Health Medical Officer of the Windsor-Essex County Health Board, said he expects the province’s announcement at the end of the week to determine whether or not the region can succeed in the rest of Ontario in Stage 3.
– With Windsor Star files
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