Windsor-Essex reports 7 new COVID-19 cases, 1 additional death

While COVID-19 case counts are on a downward trend in Windsor-Essex, the pandemic continues to claim lives in the community.

On Thursday, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) reported an additional COVID-19 death.

Aman in his 60s is the fifth person to die from COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex this week. Since the start of the pandemic, 433 people have died from COVID-19 in the region.

Meanwhile, the public health unit reported a day-over-day increase of seven cases on Thursday, and a new outbreak was declared at theCasa de Dios y Puerta del Cielochurch in Windsor.

The active case count has fallen to 132, compared with 266two weeks ago. Fifteen people with COVID-19 are currently being treated in hospital.

Vaccination coverage in the community is rising daily, with263,011 people having received at least one shot as of Thursday's update.

Currently, anyone 12 and up is eligible to book their first dose, and the following groups are eligible to book an appointment for a second dose:

• Those who are 70 and olderor turning 70 this year who had their first dose more than 28 days ago.
• Those vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines on or before April 18.
• Those who received anAstraZenecashot as their first dose 12 weeks or more ago,and wantto choose adifferent vaccine for their second shot.
• Those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine at least 12 weeks agoand want a second dose of that product (pharmacies or primary care clinics only.)
• Some high risk health-care workers, people with some health conditions, First Nations, Mtis, and Inuit people and retirement home residents. Full details areavailableon the WECHUwebsite.

Six outbreaks are ongoing, including the newly declared church outbreak andone at theSouthwest Detention Centre that has been activesince late April.

The remaining outbreaks are occurring in workplaces twoin Windsor's health-care and social assistance sector and two in Tecumseh's manufacturing sector.

Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton

On Thursday, Chatham-Kent Public Health reported one additional COVID-19 death, bringing the region's total to 17. There was onenewcaseannounced Thursday, and 14 cases remain active.

In Sarnia-Lambton, the active case count stood at 30 as of Thursday. Four new cases were reported Wednesday but the area has noactive COVID-19 outbreaks.