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Update: Outbreak of COVID-19 at Scotlynn Group farm

June 4, 2020, Simcoe, ON – The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit continues to work closely with the leadership team of Scotlynn Group to manage an outbreak of COVID-19 among migrant agricultural workers.

All test results have been received, and 164 individuals have tested positive and 53 have tested negative. All the workers have been assessed by a clinical team.

Four workers remain in hospital, two of whom are in intensive care.

Health Unit staff have been in communication with individuals residing in the community who may have had close interactions with employees at the farm. In total, testing has been completed on approximately 100 people. Four have tested positive and five have tested negative. Some of these individuals are now in self-isolation.

A number of migrant workers have been relocated to hotels to complete self-isolation. Other workers will be completing self-isolation on the farm.  The workers relocated to the hotels are to remain in their rooms at all times. Health Unit staff are in contact with each worker every day. A health and safety plan has been implemented and shared with staff and the workers.

Management of community transmission

Additionally, staff at Mike’s No Frills in Port Dover – which opens an hour early for migrant workers to shop – have been tested for COVID-19 out of an abundance of caution.

All of these tests have come back negative.

Since the early stages of the pandemic, No Frills has increased its sanitization processes with frequent deep cleaning of all areas of the store, made masks and gloves available to employees, installed Plexiglas shields and implemented a number social distancing measures designed to keep customers and staff safe.

COVID-19 positive case in self-isolation residence

All those entering Canada are required to complete a 14 day period of self-isolation. Some migrant farm workers complete their self-isolation period in a residence on the farm. These residences may house one or two additional people during the self-isolation period. The Health Unit can confirm that a migrant worker, while in self-isolation on an area farm, became ill and tested positive for COVID-19. The person who became ill is now residing alone in a separate residence.