The Middlesex-London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health are working together in response to a COVID-19 outbreak declared amongst migrant farm workers who live in London and work at a farm in Elgin County. The initial case was reported to the Middlesex-London Health Unit earlier this week, which led to 16 of their close contacts being tested for the virus on Tuesday. Test results for seven of those people have now come back positive and are included in the eight cases being reported by the Health Unit today.
An additional 40 workers who live in the same complex as the initial case were tested at the Carling Heights Assessment Centre on Wednesday; the remaining workers in the group are being tested today at Ontario Plants Propagation where they work. The health units expect to receive results for these tests over the coming days.
Ontario Plants Propagation is located in Elgin County, the region served by Southwestern Public Health. That organization’s communicable disease team is working in cooperation with the workplace to ensure all reasonable infection prevention and control measures are in place for the protection of the workers and surrounding community. Bilingual signage has been enhanced, ridership on buses used to transport workers has been decreased from 12 to 6 (down from a capacity of 48), and thermometers have been ordered to enhance employee screening.
“The cooperation we’ve had with Ontario Plants Propagation has been excellent. They have been very supportive and have assisted in facilitating the transportation and testing of their staff members,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We will continue to follow up with these workers, as well as their close contacts over the next two weeks, until they complete their self-isolation and can return to work.”
“The local community can be reassured that this workplace has put a lot of thought into their infection prevention and control measures within their facility. In addition, there is no risk to the public from the products grown on the farm, as the virus can’t be transmitted through plants,” adds Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health with Southwestern Public Health.
For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.healthunit.com/novel-coronavirus, https://www.swpublichealth.ca, or www.ontario.ca/coronavirus.
Media Contacts:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317, extension 2469 of 519-617-0570 (cell)
Megan Cornwell, Communications Manager, Southwestern Public Health,
519-631-9900, extension 9900
Spokespeople:
Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit
Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health, Southwestern Public Health