7 New Cases Of COVID-19 In Windsor Essex As Of Sunday Afternoon, Health Unit Releases Rules Allowing Community Gardens

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The Windsor Essex County Health Unit has confirmed 7 additional cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday afternoon, bringing the local total to 557. They said 139 people locally have recovered.

Cases increased from 550 on Saturday April 25th to 557 on Sunday April 26th.

The Health Unit says there have been no additional deaths as of Sunday and the local death toll stands at 38.

The Health Unit says 5,591 tests have been conducted as of Sunday afternoon and 961 tests are still pending.

The Health Unit says there still outbreaks at five local long-term care and retirement homes in the community including AMICA, Sun Parlour, Lifetimes on Riverside, Heron Terrace, and Country Village Homes.

To protect yourself from COVID-19, the Health Unit says:

• Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly;
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue;
• Keep surfaces clean and disinfected;
• Stay home unless it is essential to go out and stay home when you are sick;
• Practice physical distancing (2 metres).

The Health Unit also released new rules allowing local community gardens.

“Community gardens play an important role in our local food systems as contributors to improved food security, access to fresh foods, green space, neighbourhood cohesion and community food skills,” the Health Unit said in a statement. “Yesterday, April 25^th, the government of Ontario announced new and amended emergency orders. Included was the relaxing of restrictions for the use of allotment gardens and community gardens in Ontario. This announcement noted that local medical officers of health will provide communities with recommendations for operating, that gardens must meet in order to operate.”

The Health Unit has developed a two page document, COVID-19 Guidance for Community Gardens. This document can be found on their website at wechu.org/cv/food. The Health Unit says the COVID-19: Guidance for Community Gardens resource is meant for garden organizers and/or managers and garden members. They say it briefly identifies actions that must be taken in order to ensure the safe operation and use of local gardens including details on access to garden spaces and tools, recommendations about regular cleaning and sanitation guidance, and instructions for physical distancing and social gathering.

“Food security must stay at the forefront of our decisions and actions. Community gardens, while important are just one piece of a complex system that must be maintained to ensure that our residents have access to safe, healthy and culturally appropriate foods,” said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Medical Officer of Health. “As the weather begins to turn, our gardens offer and opportunity to engage with the outdoors, learn and be physically active.”