Windsor-Essex has highest COVID-19 test positivity rate in Ontario

With local COVID-19 case rates more than double over last week, the medical officer of health for Windsor-Essex warns it's a "very critical time" in the fight against the pandemic.

"The cases are on the rise and it's among the unvaccinated mainly, so we need to increase our vaccinationrate ... and those who are vaccinated, it's not a free pass either," said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, who delivered an update live onYouTube Friday morning.

During the broadcast, the chair of the local board of health also announced Ahmed will be stepping down as of Oct. 1 to become associate chief medical officer of health for Ontario.

The Windsor-Essex Public Health Unit (WECHU) reported 69 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, along with the death of a woman in her 50s.

Ahmed also delivered his weekly epidemiological summary, providing data that demonstratedhowthe pandemic is rapidly escalating locally.

The weekly region's case rate per 100,000 people a key metric has risenfrom37.3 to 69.4 since last Thursday.

"This is a huge increase," Ahmed said.

Windsor-Essex currently has the highest percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive out of all public health units across the province. For the most recent seven-day period, the averagewas 5.1 per cent.

"More specifically, the per cent positivity is very high among the 18 to 34 age band, which is close to 12 to 13 per cent," he said.

In total, 353cases are active throughout Windsor-Essex, along witheight outbreaks,as the highly contagious delta variant gains a foothold in the region.

Asked whether he was considering new public health restrictions to curb case counts, Ahmed said health officials are alwaysreviewingCOVID-19case data and discussions are ongoing.

"There's a much broader discussion that's happening at other tables as well, that what do we need to as a province, what do we need to do as a region to have some policies in place or some control measures in place."

Over 350 active cases

There are eight ongoing outbreaks, sixof which are occurringat workplaces.

Oneoutbreak outbreak involvesa wedding in Kingsville and Tecumseh, and theVillage at St. Clair long-term care home is also in outbreak, with three staff members affected.

Throughout Windsor-Essex, sevenpeople are in hospital with COVID-19. Windsor Regional Hospital data showfive of the sixpatients in the hospital's care were not vaccinated.

According to the health unit, 70.5per cent of Windsor-Essex residentswho are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines have received both shots, and the percentage of people with at least one dose stands at 78per cent.

The health unit announced Thursday the mass vaccination site in Leamington, at the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre, is closing as of Saturday. The last remaining mass vaccination site is at the former Sears location at Devonshire Mall in Windsor.

COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton

Chatham-Kent Public Health reported Friday an increase of six new COVID-19 cases. The region's overall active case count stands at 33.

Sarnia-Lambton sawtwonew COVID-19 cases. Nineteenare considered active overall.