Windsor-Essex residents shouldn't be expecting to move out of the red zone anytime soon as the COVID-19 case rate remains high.
Last week, the COVID-19 case rate in the region was 58.1 cases per 100,000 population. To move down to the orange or restrict level on the province's COVID-19 Response Framework, the case rate needs to be below 40.
"At this time, I think even with the fluctuation that we are seeing, I'm not sure if we feel confident at this time that we are ready to go to any level below red," said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed.
Last week, about 8,283 people were tested for the virus and 2.3 per cent of the tests came back positive.
On Friday, the health unit reported 23 new cases of the virus and four more deaths connected to COVID-19.
Three women who lived in long-term care facilities and a man who lived in the community passed away after contracting the virus. There have been 368 deaths in the community.
There are 301 active cases in the community now. Local hospitals are treating 36 patients for COVID-19, six of those patients are in the intensive care unit.