As the Windsor-Essex region moves into the grey lock-down level, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit reported a record 195 new cases of COVID-19.
There were so many cases Monday morning the health unit was unable to provide an exact breakdown of the source of transmission. However, Chief Nursing Officer Theresa Marentette linked many of the cases to an outbreak in a long-term care facility, one at an agricultural facility, and close contacts.
The health unit is following 779 active cases.
While health unit officials are hopeful the lockdown measures will have a positive effect on recent case rates, they are concerned with the number of people who chose to visit stores and restaurants over the weekend in advance of the grey measures coming into effect.
"Honestly, I'm disappointed by the number of people that were out and about over the weekend," said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed. "I do worry that it may drive the number but we'll see. There were people who were following the public health guidelines but still just the number of people coming together in large numbers it increases the risk significantly."
Fifty-three people in local hospitals are known to have the virus, including 11 in the intensive care unit. Hospital officials suspect another 60 in their care have COVID-19 too.
Over the weekend, the WECHU reported five new deaths in the region, bringing the total number of deaths in the community to 91.
"As a community, are we ok to say, 'it's ok to let people die, we'll just do what we need to do because we are doing it safely'? No, you are not because if people were doing these things safely we wouldn't have this number of cases. It's a false sense of security that some people are putting forward."
The health unit is monitoring COVID-19 outbreaks at seven long-term care or retirement homes, nine workplaces, two schools, two community facilities and one hospital.
