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Forest-area greenhouse workers test positive for COVID-19

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Two employees with a greenhouse near Forest have tested positive for COVID-19, the company has confirmed.

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In both cases, COVID-19 was spread from someone who is not an employee, said Roelands Plant Farms owner Jodi Roelands in emails, noting the greenhouse is working closely with Lambton Public Health.

“At the farm, we have had many precautions in place for months, including physical distancing, masking, temperature recording and working from home to ensure the health and safety of our team,” she said. “Lambton public health has followed their usual protocols, and having interviewed the employees, to our knowledge has determined that they (have) not come into close personal contact with anyone currently at the farm.”

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A July 31 company email, seen by The Observer, shared the news with employees that one person had tested positive.

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Another company email was sent Aug. 3.

“Both cases stem from the same non-work related case, and the spread did not occur within the workplace,” the latter email from Roelands stated.

Voluntary mobile testing is being offered on site to employees, she said, noting greenhouse management and public health are optimistic there won’t be further spread.

One employee, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, said he’s concerned more workers have been exposed.

“Everyone is connected there, whether you’re up in the offices or you’re down on the floor,” he said, noting several of the employees are migrant workers. He said there should be mandatory, instead of voluntary, testing for all employees.

“The public needs to know because all the other people are out in the community. All of us are,” he said.

Roelands said the greenhouse currently employs 120 people.

Public Health generally doesn’t release geographic details about confirmed COVID-19 cases, primarily for privacy reasons, officials have said.

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