The Windsor Essex County Health Unit is reporting 59 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region and three additional deaths.
As of Wednesday morning, 408 people in the region have tested positive for the disease, 16 have died, and 32 have recovered. A total of 2,701 people have been tested for the virus, 303 people are still waiting for their results.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed attributed the increase in positive cases to the proactive testing done at long-term care and retirement facilities over the last few days.
Dr. Ahmed said proactive screening at long-term care facilities throughout the region will help slow the spread of the disease.
"The idea behind early detection is that we can isolate this individual," said Dr. Ahmed. "The moment we have a case the focus is how do we contain that case from spreading to other people and identifying the contacts of the case and keep those individuals in a place where they cannot spread it further."
Dr. Ahmed said positive identification can also help with the patient's care.
"Having those identifications early that this person is COVID positive it can lead to more discussion with their health care providers in terms of their needs. If it means that they need more clinical care, more support, hospital care ore ICU care they can be immediately referred to those services," said Dr. Ahmed. "I wouldn't say that it doesn't necessarily help, it does help but it really depends on the individual circumstances."
Outbreaks have been declared at eight local facilities to date. Two outbreaks have been resolved.
