The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is reporting 47 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednedsay.
45 of the cases are workers in the agri-farm sector, one is a healthcare worker and the other is still under investigation.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed says the new cases are from workers who work at two farms that are already under an outbreak.
"It's at two different farms but those farms already have cases so that's why the number of new farms has not increased," says Dr. Ahmed.
He says the new cases in the agri-food sector were all in close contact of symptomatic cases.
"So by default, they were high risk of contacting the disease and that's what happened," says Dr. Ahmed. "We tested them and majority of them came back positive so we're monitoring them and they're already under isolation at this point."
The biggest challenge during the pandemic in the agri-food sector according to Dr. Ahmed is the living arrangements and accommodations.
"Once you have a positive case, it's very easy to spread it to pretty much everyone who lives in the same bunkhouse or the same accommodation," says Dr. Ahmed. "So the key approach has always been to prevent any introduction of this case in any of these farms."
There are outbreaks at five businesses all in Leamington in Kingsville — four in the agriculture sector and one in the manufacturing sector.
Dr. Ahmed is also reminding the public to wear a face covering when attending a commercial establishment.
He says it is mandatory unless a person cannot wear one for medical reasons or age.
— With files from AM800's Kristylee Varley