Health Unit: ZERO Confirmed Cases Of COVID-19 In Windsor Essex

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The Windsor Essex County Health Unit is stressing that there have been zero confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Windsor and Essex County as of Friday, March 13th at 1:00pm.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Windsor Essex County Health Unit says 50 people have been tested locally and all have tested negative.

Ahmed said the Ministry of Health is working on expanding assessment and testing centres to the Windsor-Essex area.

“The Ministry is trying to set up assessment and testing centres in different regions, but they are limited by a shortage of supplies,” he said. “But that will be coming soon, maybe in a few days, or a week maximum.”

“We are coordinating with the Ministry to ensure that people who need to be tested, are being tested,” he said.

Amhed said the risk level locally is still low, because there are no cases.

“We do not have any cases in Windsor-Essex,” he said. “The likelihood of someone contracting it and spreading it is still low.”

Ahmed said the panic that has been seen at stores is causing problems for those who need supplies the most.

“Having some supplies for any emergency is a good idea but I think people need to recognize that if they are stocking up on supply, it has to be a gradual increase,” he said.

“We don’t want everyone to just rush and grab everything that they can find, especially for medicine.”

“There are people who really need those medicines. So we need to make sure that we take what we need and leave what others will probably need,” he said.

Ahmed commented on the fact that fear, anxiety and rumours are spreading through social media.

“We need to get out of that anxiety state and social media is not helping,” he said.

“If there is a level of risk or level of transmission [of the virus] happening in the community, we [the Health Unit] will be the first to tell you.”

Citizens can monitor the Health Unit’s dedicated website for updates:
https://www.wechu.org/z-health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019