WINDSOR, ONT. -- The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is informing the public of possible COVID-19 exposure at three establishments in Essex County.

Medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed says the three establishments are Wineology in Kingsville, El Diablo in Kingsville and Muscedere Vineyards in Harrow.

“We have identified the two individuals symptomatic with COVID-19 and recently confirmed positive visited these establishments on Aug. 21,” says Ahmed.

He says WECHU is working with all close contacts identified through case investigation and contact tracing, but he wants to inform the public due to the risk of exposure.

“The community members who went to all of these locations and they’re positive and we believe that they were symptomatic when they visited these facilities,” says Ahmed.

He says the exposure risk was on Aug. 21. Ahmed did not say which symptoms the people had.

Anyone who visited those establishments on Aug. 21 are being asked to take the online COVID-19 self-assessment, monitor for symptoms and if any symptoms develop, contact their primary care provider or go to an assessment centre.

“We believe the potential to customers is likely low, however the risk for infection remains,” says Ahmed.

Ahmed says anyone who has any COVID-19 symptoms should not go out anywhere because it puts others at risk.

“If they are not feeling well, they shouldn’t go out, period,” says Ahmed.

Business owners react

Owner of Muscedere Vineyards Fabio Muscedere says they were just made aware of the possible exposure Friday morning through the media.

“We had no idea about the exposure,” says Muscedere. “But in talking to our local health unit rep, the reason we weren’t contacted was because we had followed all the required protocols. So the risk was considered nonexistent or minimal at best. So we were never contacted.”

Muscedere says he would have liked to know about it earlier.

“It would’ve been nice to know so that we wouldn’t have been so surprised today,” he adds.

Muscedere says they have been following proper protocols allowed in Stage 3 of reopening.

“We make people stay maximum six to a table, we have 10 feet between tables. Everyone’s on reservation, name and phone numbers, masks coming in, masks when you pay, masks for staff.”

The owner of Wineology, Jean Claude Boulos tells CTV News the exposure was a week and a half ago, that all of their employees are getting tested weekly and they are following all COVID-19 protocols, at all locations in Windsor-Essex.

“There is nothing to worry about. Please come and visit us,” Boulos says.

Co-owner of El Diablo, John Perciballi says he is disappointed to find out about the situation through the public and the media.

“We were never notified before they posted any of it. I think that’s a very black in professionalism from the health unit and the government," he said. "And I wish they would’ve contacted us before they published it online or wherever else they published it.”

WECHU responded to CTV News about not notifying restaurants about the COVID-19 exposure before the news briefing Friday morning:

“The WECHU’s top priority is to notify the public as quickly as possible in any case where public notification is needed for a potential exposure. The information shared this morning occurred in parallel to other notifications, that are part of our overall process, including discussions with each identified business. This is the first time the WECHU has issued this type of notification, and we will refine our process going forward to improve coordination of our communications,”said the statement from the health unit.

With files from CTV's Michelle Maluske and Alana Hadadean.