7 migrant workers test positive for COVID-19 in what could be a larger outbreak

Two health units have come together to help contain a coronavirus outbreakat a largefarm operation in southwestern Ontario, where seven migrant workers are sick and 33 more are waiting for test results.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health said Friday one person tested positive earlier in the week at Ontario Plants Propagation in St. Thomas, a supplier that specializes in greenhouse vegetable plants.

Since then, 56 employees were being tested at London's Carling Heights assessment centre and at the farm where they work. Test results are still pending for manybut sevenmigrant workers have sincetested positive.

"The cooperation we've 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," Dr. Alex Summers, associate medical officer of health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit said in a statement.

MLHU said part of the infection control includes quarantine measures, as well as posting bilingual signs around the farm, reducing the number of people riding in farm's bus and taking employees' temperatures.

More testing

Meanwhile, Ontario reported 344 additional cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the majority in the Greater Toronto area.

ACBC News analysis has found that the per capita rate of active cases is four times higher in the GTA and Hamilton Area than elsewhere in the province.

While Premier Doug Ford has until now resisted the idea of a regional re-opening strategy, a sentiment MLHU's Dr. Chris Mackie has supported, Ford said Friday he could reconsider.

"Now that our testing is getting to where we need it, I am now comfortable with asking our officials to look at a regional approach for a staged reopening."

Ford said this following an announcement that Ontario will expand testing with afocus on communities with relatively high numbers of cases andcertain high-risk workplaces while also boosting Ontario's contact-tracing work.

Testing in London

London's two assessment centres have seen a spike in people looking for tests this week. Since Monday, health care workers at the Carling Heights Optimist Centre and the OakridgeArena have swabbed 1,952 people.

Some of those include the migrant workers sent by Ontario Plant Propagation.

This isthe most tests done in one week in London since the centres opened.