If you have an appointment booked to get your COVID-19 shot, don't worry. The lockdown will not close the region's five vaccination clinics.
Officials with the City of Windsor, County of Essex, Erie Shores Healthcare, and Windsor Regional Hospital are reassuring residents they can still get their vaccination despite Premier Doug Ford's order locking down the province for the next month.
"Vaccination clinics are already engaging in strict infection control processes designed to keep people safe and healthy while attending their appointments," read a release. "Clinic staff will take every precaution to ensure the health and safety of residents during their visit."
The lockdown is in effect until April 30. Ford announced it last Thursday after the number of cases involving COVID-19 variants began to spike. During a briefing Thursday morning, public health officials told reporters the more infectious and deadly version of the virus first identified in the United Kingdom was becoming the dominant strain in Ontario.
Currently, there are five vaccination clinics in the region. In Windsor, the WFCU Centre is home to the clinic in the east end of the city. The Sportsplex at St. Clair College is open in the west end, and Windsor Hall on Ferry Street downtown is open. Clinics in the county are located at the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre in Leamington and the Libro Credit Union Centre in Amherstburg.
Those 60 and over are invited to book an appointment online at WEVax.ca or by calling 226-773-2200. Walk-ins are not allowed. All appointments must be booked.
Those who go to a clinic must wear a face mask, adhere to physical distancing, and hand sanitization.