The Windsor-Essex Region continues to see positive trends in daily COVID-19 case rates. However, the Medical Officer of Health still expects there to be many restrictions in place when the provincial lockdown officially ends on February 9.
“We are following these measures. That’s why the numbers are down, and we know that when you ease off some of these restrictions, there will be more interaction. There will be more opportunities for people to come together, and then spread the disease,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed. “We want to make sure that people understand that part very carefully. That even when the restrictions ease, it doesn’t mean we can go back to what we were doing before.”
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported another 41 cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total number of cases since March 2020 to 12,009. There are now 721 active cases in the community.
The health unit also reported seven additional deaths linked to the virus. Five long-term care residents, and two members of the general community, passed away after contracting COVID-19. Their ages ranged from their 60s to their 90s.
The case-rate in Windsor Essex is currently 176.5 per 100,000 population, bringing the local case rate closer to the provincial average. If current trends continue, Dr. Wajid Ahmed expects the region to still be in the Red, or Control zone when the stay at home order is lifted.
The percentage of tests coming back positive also continues to decline. Over the last week, about 9,000 tests were conducted, and 6.2 per cent came back positive.
About 2,000 tests were conducted during that period compared to the week before.
Currently, local residents are waiting about two days to receive their test results. About 80 per cent of tests come back within two days, only 27 per cent of tests come back in one day.
