Local COVID hospitalizations are trending higher, after dropping below five earlier this week.
There are nine COVID-positive patients at Bluewater Health, one in intensive care.
The Sarnia hospital's website said six of the patients are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, while three have had at least two doses of a vaccine.
Lambton Public Health reported 41 new lab confirmed cases of the virus in its Friday report, for a total of 9,998 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
There is one active outbreak. Ten residents at Vision Nursing Home in Sarnia and fewer than five staff members have tested positive for the virus.
Friday marks the two year anniversary of the global pandemic.