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SvennoJ on 02 June 2020
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Major setback while Ontario numbers are climbing again

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/at-least-164-migrant-workers-at-one-ontario-farm-have-tested-positive-for-covid-19-1.4964690

It’s asparagus harvest season, but some of the fields in Norfolk County, Ontario, are all but empty following an outbreak of COVID-19 that has spread to 164 migrant workers from Mexico, temporarily halting production.

Last Thursday, a worker at Scotlynn Group complained of symptoms; just days later, more than half of the 216 migrant workers tested positive. Seven are hospitalized, including two in intensive care. Health officials have already started contact tracing while more still awaited results. Only 33 are able to work in the field.

The workers arrived from Mexico to Biddle’s farm back in early April - already delayed due to the pandemic and travel restrictions - and underwent a 14-day quarantine before starting work. Everyone came out of the quarantine healthy and nobody showed any symptoms prior to Thursday, according to Biddle.
https://www.simcoereformer.ca/news/local-news/farmer-at-centre-of-outbreak-spent-700000-to-house-workers-during-isolation-period

Biddle relies on the migrant workers to produce millions of pounds of asparagus and sweet corn. To ensure his asparagus crop is harvested this year, he put out a call for local help on Facebook, offering $25 an hour. He said 150 locals were confirmed to help, but with a pay hike that’s nearly double what the migrant workers make, advocates like MWAC’s Aviles are not happy, noting that they have been working in these conditions for decades.

“There’s a lot of anger right now,” she said. Adding to the concern is the uncertainty around compensation for the workers while they are sick.

"They have passed quarantine, and now they are sick with the virus. They don't know what is going to happen with them, and in the meantime who is going to feed their families?"

I cycle through Norfolk county passing these farms on warm days like this one. Mostly passed the fruit farms though who were all very busy planting :/