Windsor-Essex COVID-19 data supports reopening of schools, health unit says

The top public health doctor in Windsor and Essex County says localdata supports the idea of reopening schools.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit,said he will present some of that epidemiological data on Wednesday.

"Generally speaking, the indictors and everything are pointing in the right direction, which would support the recommendation ... toreopenour schoolsfor in-person learning," he said.

The province's medical officers of health wrote to the health and education ministerslast week to express their support for reopening schools as community spread decreases across the province, according to Ahmed.

"The letter of support basically echoed the updated advice of the Hospital for Sick Children andrecommends that daily in-person classrooms should be the last to close and first to open," he said.

The letter also advised that more efforts are needed to protect school staff, referencingthe prevention of in-person meetings andrefreshers on personal protective equipment, Ahmed added.

The province is expected to make an announcement on schoolreopenings on Wednesday.

Schools in Windsor-Essexhave been closed since the week before the holiday break, prior to an order from the province that temporarily shut downschools across Ontario. Schools in 19 of the province's 34 public healthregions havesince reopened.

Locally, COVID-19 case countshave declined after peaking in early January. The active case count dipped below 500 Tuesdayfor the first time since early December. Just two weeks ago, there were roughly 2,500 active cases in the region.

The death toll hascontinued to rise, however, with more coronavirus-relateddeaths last monththan all of 2020.

On Tuesday, the health unit announced 10 new deaths, including four seniors' home residents. There were also35 new cases. Eight of the new cases are close contacts of confirmed cases. Five are related to outbreaks, and another five were community acquired. The rest are under investigation.

Throughout the region, there are 72 peoplein hospital with COVID-19, with 12 in ICU, according to the health unit.

There are 39outbreaks active in the region, including sixbetween Windsor Regional Hospital and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

Outbreaks areactive at 16workplaces:

• Four in Leamington's agriculturalsector.
• Five in Kingsville's agriculturalsector.
• One in Leamington's food and beverage sector.
• Twoin Windsor's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Tecumseh'shealth care and social assistance sector.
• Three in Windsor's manufacturing sector.

There are 17 active outbreaks at long-term care and retirement facilities:

• Franklin Gardens in Leamington with 23resident cases and threestaff cases.
• Heron Terrace in Windsor with tworesident cases and one staff case.
• Chartwell Leamingtonwith two resident cases and twostaff case.
• Regency Park in Windsor with 22resident cases and 14staff cases.
• Chartwell Royal Marquis in Windsorwith threeresident cases and one staff case.
• Devonshire Retirement Residence in Windsor, with 48resident cases and eightstaff cases.
• Rosewood Erie Glen in Leamington, with 42resident cases and eightstaff cases.
• Augustine Villas in Kingsville, with 64resident and 19staff cases.
• Sunrise Assisted Living of Windsor, with 15resident cases and eight staff cases.
• Huron Lodge in Windsor, with 48resident cases and 26staff cases.
• Sun Parlor Home in Leamington with tworesident cases and 13staff cases.
• Banwell Gardens Care Centre in Windsor, with 115resident cases and 65staff cases.
• The Shoreview at Riverside in Windsor, with 30resident cases and 16staff cases.
• Extendicare Tecumseh, with 90 resident cases and 59staff cases.
• Berkshire Care Centre in Windsor, with 99resident and 62staff cases.
• The Village at St. Clair in Windsor, with 170resident cases and 137staff cases.
• Village of Aspen Lake in Tecumseh, with 65resident cases and 33staff cases.

COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton

Chatham-Kent announced six new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, while Sarnia-Lambtonhadthree.

Lambton Public heath has reported 1,845 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Chatham-Kent Public Health has seen 1,225.