Rec Complex being set up as migrant worker testing site

Leamington – For the next week, the Sherk Centre in Leamington will be home to a COVID-19 Assessment Centre & Clinic aimed at screening, testing and helping the Migrant Worker population in Essex County.

A regional collaboration between Erie Shores HealthCare, Essex Windsor EMS, the Municipality of Leamington, Windsor Regional Hospital, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Windsor Essex Community Health Centre, Home and Community Care ESC/Ontario Health West Region, Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Windsor Essex County Health Unit will begin on Tuesday June 9th .

“We are pleased to see such a broad group of providers from across the region come together and drive this initiative for an important part of our community.” – Dr. Ross Moncur, Interim CEO and Chief of Staff, Erie Shores HealthCare.

After launching the Migrant Worker COVID Outreach Assessment Teams this week, all of the listed healthcare organizations, under the direction of Ontario Health, are initiating this directive aimed at offering testing to this population and addressing health concerns in a centralized location with the expectation that if a higher level of care is needed they can be transported on to Hospital.

“This is a topic that is extremely important to our residents in Leamington. We need to ensure the health and safety of all our community members. Working alongside healthcare professionals we are confident that this collaboration will benefit our migrant workers.’ – Mayor Hilda MacDonald, Municipality of Leamington.

The gymnasium has been converted into a swabbing and testing clinic to assess, test and care for the approximate 8000 migrant workers in the area.

The clinic opens Tuesday morning at 9am and run until 4pm through Friday afternoon. At the end of the week, staff will reassess and determine if it is necessary for another week.

Migrant workers attending the testing site will also be encouraged to sign up for the Migrant Worker Health Aid Card to help expedite urgent care in a hospital setting.