CBC Windsor's April 14 COVID-19 update: 349 cases, 13 deaths in Windsor-Essex

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported there are now 349 cases of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex.

On Tuesday, the health unit announced 13 people have now died from the disease caused by the virus in our area. Ten of those people are linked to long-term care or retirement homes in the region. The other three deaths were among"members of the community at large."

Seven of those homes are experiencing outbreaks.

Country Village Homes in Woodslee is seeing the worst outbreak of all seven facilities, with 25 residents and 18 staff now reported as testing positive for COVID-19.

AMICA at Windsor now has 12 residents who have tested positive and seven staff members.

Heron Terrace has 10 residents and 10 staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health, said directives from the province came over the weekend, pushing for more testing and safety measures at long-term care facilities across Ontario.

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The spike in cases seen Tuesday is in part due to a delay in test results said Ahmed,and because of increased testing at long-term care homes one of the directives issued over the weekend.

"Most of these cases now are coming from the long-term care home which is another issue and we are working with them," said Ahmed.

Of the 349 COVID-19 cases in Windsor and Essex County, 30 people have recovered from the disease. The majority of those who have tested positive are aged 50 to 59-years-old.

WATCH| The health unit's COVID-19 update for April 14:

The majority of people who have contracted the disease have done so through close contact with someone who already had the virus. That's about 103 cases, surpassing the 89 people who contracted the virus through travel. Another 96 people are suspected to have gotten the virus through community spread.

About 115 of those who have tested positive are health-care workers.

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Windsor McDonald's employee tests positive

Following reports of a worker at the McDonald's at 3354 Dougall Ave.had tested positive for COVID-19 the health unit said it would"not confirm the identity of individual cases within the community."

The health unitconducts an investigation for all confirmed cases of COVID-19.

"Anyone who is identified as a close contact and at risk for COVID-19 through close contact will be contacted by WECHU," the health unit's Sunday release read.

It also said there is no evidence the virus is transmitted through food and that takeout food and delivery are good options for meals as it maintainsphysical distancing.

COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton

The health unit in Sarnia-Lambton reported 119confirmed cases of COVID-19 Tuesday.Tenpeople have died from the disease in Lambton County and 21people have recovered.

The health unit said their investigations linked some of the cases to group travel to Europe while others are linked to family andfaith gatherings and some transmission happened in occupational settings.

Six of the ten deaths can be tied to the outbreak atthe Landmark Village retirement home, the health unit said in anupdate Sunday. The number of infected at that facility grew by one on Saturday to 22 cases among the staff and residents.

COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent

Chatham-Kent Pubic Health reported Monday that 25 people in the region have tested positive for COVID-19. One person has died and seven people have recovered.

Of the 25 people who have tested positive for the disease, not one person is currently in hospital. Those diagnosed are recovering at home.

About 550 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent.