CBC Windsor September 23 COVID-19 update: 2 new cases as province pushes flu shots

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported two new cases of COVID-19 in our region, both of which were among workers in the agri-farm sector.

Though new case counts remain relatively low locally, across Ontariocase numbers continue to rise, andthere are mounting calls for the government to take more actions to slow the spread of the virus now, in an effort to avoid a full-scalelockdownlater.

The average number of new cases reported daily over the past week was 383, double what it was just nine days earlier. The daily case count has exceeded 400 on four of the past five days.

"The premier and I are both very concerned about the rapid increase in numbers, as I know the people of Ontario are, but we do have a plan," Health Minister Christine Elliott said Tuesday.

But Elliott and Premier Doug Ford did not announceany new public health measures on Tuesday to try to rein in those numbers.

They didunveilone elementof Ontario's promised COVID-19 fall preparedness plan the province's upcoming flu vaccination campaign.The government intends to roll out the rest of its fall plan piece-by-piece over the coming days.

WATCH | Ford tells people to get their flu shot:

Never more important to get a flu shot, Ford says

4 years ago

Duration 1:34

As part of its fall preparedness plan to fight the coronavirus, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province is investing $70 million in a flu shot campaign.

Windsor-Essex health unit CEO and chief nursing officer, Theresa Marentette, said she expects local flu shots to arrive early this fall.

"We have been told we will probably get our fluvaccinemid-October which is typically when we do receiveit," she said.

Marentette said the health unit is not aware of any possible shortages of the vaccine so far, and explained that generally they go to the most vulnerable people first like those who areimmunocompromised, elderly or patients with conditions requiring the shot.

Oneretirement home is currentlyunderoutbreak.

Dolce Vitain Windsor has recently hadfive residents and two staff members testpositive for COVID-19.

Outbreaks at Rosewood Erie Glen and New Begninnings, both in Leamington, have now ended.

34-year-old hospitalized with COVID-19 has a message

As a young and healthy 34-year-old, Brandon Wu never anticipated he'd contract COVID-19 and end up hospitalized with the disease.

"It sucks, I never thought I was going to have it, but here I am," Wu said. "You don't see this too often."

"I want to be that one where they listen. I want to show how I'm feeling, how I am, because this is not a joke, this is very real."

Wu spoke to CBC News on Tuesday from his bed atWindsor Regional Hospital while receiving an iron transfusion. Since being admitted to the hospital on Friday he's posted videos to Facebook to share his experience with family and friends.

In Windsor-Essex, the local health unit has reported that more than half of the region's cases are in those 39 years old and younger.

While Wusaid he wants to share his story to put a face to the numbers, healso said he hopes he can show people why they should continue to wear a mask and protect themselves from the disease.

READ MORE |Windsor man, 34, has this message for his peers as COVID-19 lands him in hospital

Potential public exposures

Over the past few weeks, the health unit hasflaggedseveralbusinesses forpotential COVID-19 exposures.

In each case, a customer or staff member has tested positive and the health unit wantsanybody who may have come into contact to be alerted, self-monitor for symptoms and seek care if symptoms develop.

The affected businesses and dates include:

• Spagoat3850 Dougall Ave. onSept.6, Sept.9, Sept. 10

COVID-19 inSarnia-Lambton

Lambton Public Health reported nonew COVID-19 cases Tuesday. There have been a total of 344 cases in Lambton-Kent.

Twenty-five people have died.

COVID-19 inChatham-Kent

Chatham-Kent Public Healthreported nonew cases since last week. There have been a total of 366cases in Chatham-Kent.

Two people have died.