Sarnia-Lambton's COVID-19 incidence rate continues to climb.
The number of cases per 100,000 population was updated Wednesday, increasing from 102 to 119 for the week of March 7 to March 13. The positivity rate also went up from 3.1 per cent to 3.3.
As the upswing in cases continues, Lambton Public Health is trying to ramp-up vaccinations. As of Wednesday, over 12,000 had been administered including 1,167 second doses.
The health unit reported 20 new confirmed cases Wednesday for a total of 2,451 since March 25, 2020. Of those, 2,225 are considered resolved, putting the active case count at 179, an increase of four.
The death toll remained at 47. It was reported Tuesday that a man in his 70s became the most recent virus-related victim.
The spread in Sarnia-Lambton schools continues with a total of 27 having at least one student or staff case, 22 in the public system and five in the Catholic board. Two schools closed in the last week after outbreaks were declared, Brooke Central Public School and North Lambton Secondary School. As of Wednesday, the Forest high school had 15 infected students and one staff member.
The total number of institutional and school outbreaks remained at 10. Lambton Public Health said an outbreak was declared Tuesday at Sumac Lodge after a staff member tested positive. An outbreak declared February 24 at Good Shepherd's Lodge ended Tuesday as did an outbreak at an unnamed business. Holy Trinity Catholic School was added Tuesday to the list of five schools in outbreak.
Bluewater Health has six positive patients in hospital, unchanged since Sunday.
Sarnia-Lambton moved into the most restrictive Grey-Lockdown zone in Ontario's response framework as of Monday, March 15 to try to stem the spread of the virus.
--With files from Dave Dentinger
