Now that many municipalities across the region have passed bylaws mandating face masks, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit plans to update its order.
The order was first issued in June when some businesses began to reopen their doors.
Since then, Windsor, Amherstburg, Leamington, and LaSalle have passed bylaws mandating face coverings in virtually all indoor public spaces. Tecumseh, Essex, and LaSalle ask residents to wear them at least inside municipal facilities.
While the Medical Officer of Health lauds the measures, Dr. Wajid Ahmed admitted it has created some confusion since the bylaws are not uniform. Next week's update is intended to address those inconsistencies.
Ahmed did not detail the changes Thursday but told reporters the full extent of the update will be announced next week.
The health unit has received hundreds of complaints about enforcing public health measures, but Ahmed said the update has little to do with the calls.
Most of the complaints have been about people not wearing masks in public spaces, or not wearing them properly.
Meanwhile, the health unit reported another fatality related to COVID-19 Thursday. A man in his 60s died in the hospital. Ahmed said the man suffered from a number of chronic conditions and had been followed by healthcare providers for some time.
There were another eight cases of COVID-19 in the region. Of those, three are related to travel, one is from close contact with a confirmed case, and the other four are under investigation.
The number of active cases in Windsor-Essex numbered 80 on Thursday, with six people in the hospital. About 93.9 per cent of the total caseload of 2,569 has been resolved.
