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No COVID-19 cases in Lambton’s migrant farm population

July 10, 2020

Lambton Public Health says so far migrant farm workers in the area are COVID-19 free.

The health unit, working with Emergency Medical Services and Central Lambton Family Health Team, started testing migrant workers in the region last week. It came as concerns mounted for the temporary foreign workers particularly in the province’s greenhouse industry. About 60,000 migrant workers come to Canada to help with the harvest, but there have been bumps in the road this year as COVID-19 restrictions took effect at the same time many workers would enter Canada.

For a couple of days, they were banned from entering the country, and that wreaked havoc in the system. Many migrant workers have not made it to Canada for work yet.

In Lambton, normally there are between 200 and 300 temporary foreign workers helping with the harvest. This year, its far less.

Officials with the London diocese of the Catholic Church say there are about 144 workers now.

Public Health says 83 workers have now been tested with no positive COVID-19 results. There are two test outstanding. Officials say they continue to work with the farm community on the issue.

There have been 13,848 COVID-19 tests done in Lambton since the pandemic was declared, 1,113 in the past week. Right now only two people have COVID-19 and are self isolating. There is no one in hospital in Lambton with the virus.

Since June 20, there has been just one person contract COVID-19 in Lambton.

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