Windsor-Essex sees 16 COVID-19 deaths as case count nears 10K

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported 16new COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, nearly all of whom were residents of long-term care and retirement homes.

The region also saw 175 new cases of the virus, bringing the cumulative case count to 9,990.

WECHU CEO Theresa Marentettesaid 14 of those who died recently had lived in seniors' homes.

Nearly half thefacilities in the region 21 homes remain in outbreak and there are hundreds of COVID-19 cases among residents and staff. Meanwhile,efforts to vaccinate residents, staff and essential caregivers in retirement homes are ongoing, Marentette said.

After Tuesday, vaccinations at 13 of the region's 24 homes are expected to becomplete, she said.

The update comes as the province is set to release new pandemic modelling and public health measureson Tuesday.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health, said he wasn't aware of what the new restrictions willentail but said measures that restrict the number of people gatheringtogether would be a welcome sign.

"I truly hope that whatever decision or recommendation comes out, it should help us in the bringing our case counts down," he said.

Though case counts have declined slightly in recent days, there are currently2,661 active cases of COVID-19.

Of the 175 announced Monday, 19are outbreak-related, nine are close contacts of confirmed cases,three are community acquired and 144are still being investigated.

There are 99people in hospital in the region, with 17 in the ICU.

Dozens of active outbreaks

There are 45outbreaks active across the region.

Three community settings Salvation Army Centre of Hope and two Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario locations are also in active outbreak.

Twooutbreaks are active at Windsor Regional Hospital's Ouellette campus.

Outbreaks are active at 19workplaces:

• Four in Leamington's agriculture sector.
• Fivein Kingsville's agriculture sector.
• Three in Windsor's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Leamington's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Windsor's food and beverage service sector.
• One in a personal service setting in LaSalle.
• Threein public administration settings in Windsor.
• One in a retail setting in Essex.

There are 21active outbreaks at long-term care and retirement facilities:

• Chartwell Royal Marquis, with one resident case and one staff case
• Harrow Woods Retirement Home, with three resident cases and one staff case
• Seasons Retirement Home in Amherstburg, with twostaff cases
• Devonshire Retirement Residence in Windsor, with nineresident cases and twostaff cases
• Iler Lodge in Essex, with two staff cases
• Chartwell Royal Oak in Kingsville, with twostaff cases.
• Rosewood Erie Glen in Leamington, with 15resident cases and three staff cases
• Chateau Park in Windsor with four staff cases.
• Leamington Mennonite Home in Leamington, with sixstaff cases.
• Brouillette Manor in Tecumseh, with threestaff cases.
• Augustine Villas in Kingsville, with 34resident and fourstaff cases.
• Sunrise Assisted Living of Windsor, with eightresident cases and eightstaff cases.
• Huron Lodge in Windsor, with 44resident cases and 23staff cases.
• Sun Parlor Home in Leamington, with sevenstaff cases.
• Banwell Gardens Care Centre in Windsor, with 106resident cases and 42staff cases.
• The Shoreview at Riverside in Windsor, with 24resident cases and nine staff cases.
• Extendicare Tecumseh, with 80resident cases and 51staff cases.
• Berkshire Care Centre in Windsor, with 93resident and 58staff cases.
• The Village at St. Clair in Windsor, with 149resident cases and 109staff cases.
• Country Village in Woodslee, with three resident and threestaff cases.
• Village of Aspen Lake in Tecumseh, with 50resident cases and 21staff cases.