COVID-19 case rates for Windsor-Essex double in one week

With the local COVID-19 case rate more than doubling since last week, themedical officer of health for Windsor-Essexsays the risk of infection hasn't gone awaydespitelooser public healthrestrictions.

Based on the current vaccination rate, an estimated 64,000 adults in the region are not yet vaccinated,Dr. Wajid Ahmedsaid Friday during an update broadcast live on YouTube.

"Ifyou're going to a restaurant, if you're going to any place that does not require you to wear themask...when eating or doing other activities, you will be sitting among people who are either unvaccinated or vaccinated, and increasing your chances to contract the virus," he said.

According to the health unit, 76.4per cent of eligible residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while the number of fully vaccinated people 12 and up stands at 67.6per cent

An average of around 1,300 shots were given daily in the last week, in line with a weeks-long trend of reduced uptake.

While the vaccination rate has largelyplateauedin Windsor-Essex,the number of cases has seen sharp growth since the beginning of August.

Since last Friday, the active case count has more than tripled, from 25 to 79. The region's weekly case rate per 100,000 people has grown from 5.6to 12.7 since lastThursday, Ahmed said.

Ahmed said he expected some growth in cases due to the loosening of restrictions in July, but didn'tanticipateseeing the case rate hit 10 per 100,000 people untilSeptember.

The health unit reported 20 new cases on Friday for the second day in a row. One new death was reported, a woman in her 70s whomhealth officials said was not vaccinated against COVID-19.

Threepeople are being treated for COVID-19 in hospital, including one in ICU.

In addition to the cases, there are three workplace outbreaks: one inTecumseh's manufacturing sector, one in Windsor's health-care and social assistance sector and one at an agricultural workplace in Kingsville. The latter two outbreaks involve the more contagious Delta variant.

Ahmed said all of the outbreaks are being well managed, however, and they involve a maximum of five cases each.

COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton

Lambton Public Health reported one new COVID-19 case Friday.There are three active cases in total.

Chatham-Kent Public Health reported two new COVID-19 case in the municipality and nine are active overall.