Windsor Essex now has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases in the province.
Figures released Friday show Windsor-Essex has a case rate of 484 per 100,000, highest in Ontario and well above the provincial average of 257. The region of Toronto has the next highest rate with 448.
"It is definitely stressful, concerning, and we've been dealing with this for quite some time now. And as much as we'd like to see that number going down, but unfortunately, some of the risks in our region are very unique to us," said Windsor-Essex Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed.
On Friday, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit reported an additional 53 cases of COVID-19. Of those, 43 involve agri-farm workers, five are community cases, and five are still under investigation.
"I don't think we are in the position to go back at this time given that the activity is still limited to a specific sector and most of these activities are happening because of close contact exposure," said Dr. Ahmed.
In addition to the increase of cases over the last week, local hospitals are also seeing more hospital admissions and more emergency room visits.