More than 100 new COVID-19 cases in Windsor-Essex for 2nd day in a row

Health officials in Windsor-Essex reported more than 100 new cases for the second day in a row Thursday, as a potential lockdown looms.

The region's COVID-19 case total has grown by 104 and officials reported that a woman in her 70s has become the 86th person in Windsor-Essexto die from COVID-19.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unitalso presented analysis of a 32-case COVID-19 cluster connected toCentral Park Athletics.

During the health unit's daily update on Thursday, medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Amhedoutlined howthe virusrippled through schools and families starting with a case late last month.

Ahmed said officials believe the facility followed regulations.

The majority of those infected were between the ages of 10 and 19 and at least seven schools were impacted, said Ahmed.

Corpus Christi's sports academy, which operates out of the facility, was the hardest hit with ninecases.

Several cases were linked to a church, and 14 cases were associated with 10 hockey teams.

"The cases involved with this cluster practiced and played at a number of different recreation and training centres, including six arenas, two private training facilities and two golf clubs," Ahmed explained.

There were no fatalities associated with the cluster, and 17 people have since recovered.

On Wednesday, a record 127 cases were reported, along with the death of a 27-year-old man who didn't have any underlying health conditions.

Officials have been warning that public health resources and health-care capacity are injeopardy due to the dramatic uptick in cases in recent weeks.

Windsorites are expected to learn Friday whether the province is moving the region from the red level of COVID-19 restrictions to the highest tier, grey, which would mean among other measuresthe closure of all indoor and outdoor dining.

But regardless of what the province decides, Ahmed said changes are coming to Windsor-Essex.

"Whatever happens ... we will come outwith our own local restrictions based on the evidence and based on the data that we are observing locally," he said.

Snapshot of the pandemic in Windsor-Essex

The 104 new cases announced Thursdaybring the cumulative case total to 4,342.

Of the new cases,16 are close contacts of previously confirmed cases, three are local health-care workers, one wascommunity acquired, 14 areagrifarm workers and 70are still being investigated.

Thirty-two people are in hospital, with sevenin the intensive care unit.

There are 610active cases in Windsor-Essex with 24outbreaks, including atHotel Dieu Grace Healthcare hospital and Windsor Regional Hospital.

There are 11workplace outbreaks:

• Three in Leamington's agriculture sector
• Two in Kingsville's agriculture sector
• One in Lakeshore's health care and social assistance sector
• One in Windsor's health care and social assistance sector
• One in Leamington's finance and insurance sector
• One in Windsor's manufacturing sector
• One in Kingsville's manufacturing sector
• One in Tecumseh's manufacturing sector

Two community outbreaks are active,one at Windsor's Manor Lodge House that was declared on Wednesday and another at Victoria Manor Supportive Living in Windsor.

School outbreaks are active at General Brock Public School and Corpus Christi Catholic Middle School - Central Park Athletics Campus.

There are COVID-19 outbreaks at seven long-term care and retirement homes:

• Country Village inWoodslee with one staff cases and one resident case.
• Devonshire Retirement Residence in Windsor with one staff case.
• Chartwell St. Clair Beach in Tecumseh with 11resident cases and one staff case.
• Village of Aspen Lake in Tecumseh with two staff cases
• Leamington Mennonite in Leamington with two staff cases.
• Chartwell Royal Oak Residence in Kingsville with two staff cases.
• Riverside Place in Windsor with 17 resident cases and four staff cases.