First COVID-19 Case Confirmed In Windsor Essex

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Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical Officer of Health for Windsor Essex, shown in this file photo, confirmed the first case this evening in an email to local media outlets.

The Windsor Essex County Health Unit confirmed Windsor-Essex’s first positive case of COVID-19, Friday evening.

Officials say the case is a male in his sixties who returned to Windsor after travelling on a Caribbean cruise and arrived back in Windsor on March 10th. He has been self isolating since he returned.

He developed symptoms on March 11th and was tested at the Windsor Regional Hospital Assessment and Testing Centre on March 16th. He was also a close contact of a family member who tested positive for COVID-19 outside of Windsor and Essex County.

He is currently recovering at home with mild symptoms.

The Health Unit says this highlights the importance for all residents to follow public health recommendations. With the return of March break travellers, the Health Unit says they’re strongly urging all residents to practice social distancing, avoiding crowds and close contact with those outside of their immediate families, as well as staying home as much as possible, especially if you feel unwell.

“The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is continuing to investigate and monitor all individuals who are at risk of exposure,” says Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical Officer of Health for Windsor Essex. “We continue to encourage residents to take appropriate preventative measures to ensure they stay healthy including regularly washing hands with soap and water, coughing or sneezing into tissue and handwashing, disinfecting and most importantly staying home if you are ill.”

You’re asked to contact the Windsor-Essex Public 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 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.