Windsor-Essex surpasses 400 COVID-19 deaths

A year into the pandemic, more than 400 people have now died from COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) announced Tuesday the recent deaths of three more residentstwo men in their 70s and one woman in her 80s, all livingin the community.

There have been 401 deaths of local residentsthroughout the pandemic.

Target to get all 80+ vaccinated

The grim milestone comes as vaccination efforts aimed at protecting those most vulnerable to the virus arecontinuing to rampup.

Theresa Marentette, CEO and chief nursing officer of WECHU, said at the health unit's daily briefing Tuesday that staffareon track to have seniors over 80 vaccinated by the end of the month.

So far, 4,432 people in that populationhave received their first dose.Two clinicsopened up this month for seniors living in the community, one in Leamington and one in Windsor.

Over 15,600 people have pre-registered, but two more vaccination sites are expected to open up in Windsor next week.

"Next week we'll have four options for our seniors to get vaccinated and we believe we're on track to get everyone completed by the end of the month," Marentette said.

There are 281active cases of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex, including 32 new ones reported on Tuesday.

Of those, oneis outbreak-related, eightare closecontacts of confirmed cases, eightcases were community acquired and 15areunder investigation.

Thirty-one people are in hospital with COVID-19.

A new outbreak was declared at the Salvation Army, just days after an outbreak at the shelter was cleared. There are three other community settings in outbreak:Victoria Manor, the DowntownMission and South West Detention Centre.

There are six active cases involving inmatesat the institution, according to the provincial government. The health unit is working closely with the institution, Marentette said.

"They are well-versed and in a good position ... to deal with any issues they have in their cases," Marentette said. "Andwe work closely with them to support them and make sure they have the right information and can manage whatever they're dealing with."

There are now more than 100 cases associated with the Mission outbreak, Marentette said. The Mission, which hasbeen ordered to keep its locations closed, is working with the health unit on a plan for reopening with COVID-19 protocols in place.

"We have reviewed their plan and have provided feedback, and are hopeful that we can work with the leadership of the Mission to safely reopen in the coming weeks," she said.

Fourworkplaces have active outbreaks:

• One in Kingsville'sconstructionsector
• One in Windsor's healthcare and social assistance sector
• One in Lakeshore's public administrationsector
• One in Windsor's retailsector.

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

• Riverside Place in Windsor, with one staff case.
• Leamington Mennonite Home, with one staff case.

Threeschool outbreaks one in W.F. Herman Academy, one inBellewood Public School and one inMonseigneur Jean Noel have been cleared, according to the health unit's website, along with an outbreak at Windsor Regional Hospital.

COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton, Chatham-Kent

Lambton Public Health announced 22new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday but the number ofactive cases remained at 175.

In Chatham-Kent, 10 new cases of COVID-19 were announced,and there are 70active cases