2 more COVID-19 deaths in Windsor-Essex
Health unit reports 86 new cases since Wednesday
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) said Friday that two more people — a man in his 50s and a woman in her 60s — have died after contracting COVID-19.
Since the beginning of August, when COVID-19 case counts began to soar in the region, 21 Windsor-Essex residents have lost their lives to COVID-19 and more than 2,800 people have tested positive for the virus, according to the health unit.
The death toll stands at 456.
WECHU reported a two-day increase of 86 cases of COVID-19 on Friday following the closure of its office Thursday for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. There were 43 cases reported on each day.
The region's overall active case count has risen slightly, from 281 to 297, following the addition of those cases.
There are also two-dozen active outbreaks in the region, 15 of which are occurring at workplaces:
- Six workplaces are in the agricultural sector.
- Six workplaces are in the health care and social assistance sector.
- Two workplaces are in the manufacturing sector.
- One workplace is in a public administration setting
Outbreaks are ongoing at five schools:
- École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Ursule.
- St. Andre French Immersion Catholic School
- Ford City Public School.
- Al-Hijra Academy.
- St. Joseph's Catholic High School.
Two community outbreaks are also ongoing, one at St. Clair College and one at The Salvation Army, while two long-term care homes, The Village at St. Clair and La Chaumiere Retirement Residence, are also in outbreak.
So far, 77.2 per cent of local residents 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
COVID-19 exposures
The health unit has issued a COVID-19 exposure notification for Word of Life Community Church in Ruthven. Anyone who visited on Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. is asked to self-monitor for symptoms for the two weeks following that date, and get tested if symptoms appear.
The same guidance is in effect for anyone who was on Transit Windsor routes 1A and 1C on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., or 4 p.m.
COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton, Chatham-Kent
Chatham-Kent reported 24 new cases on Friday. Currently, 107 cases are active overall and there are six ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks.
Dr. David Colby, medical officer of health, said Thursday that there 24 direct cases and nearly double that indirectly related to the outbreak at Praise Fellowship church. The health unit reported one additional death on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 20.
In a news release Friday afternoon, Chatham-Kent Public Health said it has been notified of "multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19" from the Catholic Women's League dinner on Sept. 27 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Tilbury.
Since all attendees at the event were fully vaccinated, it says contacts are not required to isolate.
But anyone who attended is asked to self-monitor for symptoms and get tested if symptoms arise.
The health unit said it recommends that all attendees book a COVID-19 test for Oct. 4, but adds that if you have been contacted by the health unit as a close contact to follow the testing guidance provided.
Chatham's Assessment Centre, at 10 Grand Ave. W., has testing appointments available.
In Sarnia-Lambton there were 26 new cases since Wednesday's update and 95 active cases overall.
