Despite the small risk in Windsor-Essex, health and emergency officials are saying they are ready to handle any cases of the novel coronavirus.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens called together a host of public officials Friday morning to discuss the region's plan for dealing with the virus should cases appear locally. Members of the city administration were present, along with Windsor Police Chief Pam Mizuno, Fire Chief Steve Laforet, Essex-Windsor EMS Chief Bruce Krauter, LaSalle Mayor Marc Bondy, and Leamington Mayor Hilda Macdonald.
Dilkens told reporters at the city's Emergency Operations Centre that he was aware of the concern growing in the community, as well as the misinformation about COVID-19 being shared on social media, and he wanted people to be mindful that the issue is being handled and continuously monitored.
"We want to reassure the residents that our entire team of health care partners are working together with the city, with the county," said Dilkens. "The entire region is working together in preparation for this, but there is no need to panic. This is something that everyone's on top of."
Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, provided a presentation on COVID-19 and how it is transmitted. He reported that 12 people in Windsor-Essex had been tested for the coronavirus, and all came back negative. He reiterated that there are no confirmed cases in Windsor-Essex, but he did suggest the remote possibility that it was only a matter of time before a case did show up in the area.
"There is a strong possibility that someone would come in contact and would bring it in here until we get to the point of having a vaccine or a treatment ready that we can use and contain this virus right from the source. We are not there yet," said Ahmed.
Dr. Wassim Saad, chief of staff at Windsor Regional Hospital, suggested that people who meet the criteria and are showing symptoms should not even go to their primary care physician, clinic, or emergency department, but stay home and recover.
"The Ontario College of Family Physicians has informed family physicians to let patients know that if you have symptoms consistent with the flu, stay at home and quarantine yourself for two weeks," said Saad. "If you feel like your symptoms are severe enough, then you can call your local health unit."
The health unit has comprehensive information on the novel coronavirus and the precautions being taken on its official website.
Meanwhile, provincial health officials confirmed Friday morning a seventh positive case of COVID-19 in Ontario. A man in his 50s, with a travel history to Iran, appeared at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre with symptoms on Wednesday. The man was treated in hospital and sent home the same day. He is recovering in self-isolation.
A slide from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, showing the risk classification of travellers, is shown at the city of Windsor's Emergency Operations Centre on February 28, 2020. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
