The City of Windsor is addressing that status of its facilities as it relates to COVID-19.
In a release, the city says its response is based on the current advice of the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, and it should be stressed that "the situation is being continuously monitored and could change at any time."
"Windsor-Essex remains low-risk to the coronavirus," says Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed
Dr. Ahmed says as of now, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Windsor-Essex. But in the meantime, the city has decided to close all EarlyOn Centres starting on Saturday to April 5th.
Jelena Payne is the city's Community Development and Health Services Commissioner and says there are 14 EarlyOn Centres in Windsor.
"We average about 2000 children per month and then each child needs to be accompanied by at least one care giver when they attend," she says. "So you're looking at numbers about 4000 to 5000 families that come through our door in any given month."
Dr. Ahmed also says if you need supplies do it in a gradual way, adding "We don't know what's coming tomorrow. We don't know what's coming the day after tomorrow but instead of panicking about it, take a deep breath, take it slow and then for any emergency you should be prepared."
He wants the public to take a deep breath and not to panic.
"We need to get out of that anxiety state and social media is not helping either," says Dr. Ahmed. "We want to make sure that if there is that level of risk, if there's level of transmission that are happening in the community, we would be the first one to tell you. We will, public health will come to you we'll inform you, what we are thinking in terms of risk assessment and what are the messages for the residents at this time."
All City of Windsor facilities remain open with the exception of all EarlyON Centres which will close effective Saturday, March 14th through April 5th.
Adventure Bay water park in downtown Windsor will remain open but special measures have been put in place:
Hours will be adjusted to create two separate sessions per day with a maximum participant limit of 250 per session
The first will take place from 10am-2pm and the second from 3:30pm-8pm
Enhanced cleaning will take place in between and depending on staff availability; some attractions may be closed on a rotational basis.
Parents are advised to use their discretion on whether or not to attend.
When it comes to Huron Lodge, the city-run long-term care home, special measures are being taken effective 2pm on Friday.
Access to Huron Lodge will be limited to the main entrance.
Huron Lodge is screening all staff, visitors, and residents entering the home.
Restrictions will be in place to permit only staff and essential personnel access to the home
Visitation for residents will be limited to allow one visitor per resident in the home at any given time
Palliative care residents' visitation will be expanded to allow for two visitors
Visitor restrictions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for compassionate grounds.
The City of Windsor is also taking extra precautionary measures including increase cleaning of bathroom surfaces, door knobs, handles, light switches, hand rails and elevator buttons, in all of its buildings.