The Windsor Essex County Health Unit logged another 28 cases of COVID-19 in the region and identified a third variant of concern.
To date, the health unit has confirmed 974 cases involving variants of concern with 91 per cent of them being the variant first identified in the United Kingdom. Labs have identified two cases of the variant first found in South Africa and now, three cases of the variant first found in Brazil.
“We have limited data that the effectiveness of the vaccines may be reduced for both the South African variant as well as the Brazillian variant and so that is why it is important that we get our vaccination number high and we give little to no opportunity for this virus to replicate or multiply in the community,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed.
There are 386 active cases in the community and 129 of them involve variants.
Among the new cases reported Tuesday, 11 are close contacts of previously confirmed cases and four are community-acquired. The health unit continues to investigate 13 of the cases.
So far, 157,979 residents of Windsor Essex have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That includes 1,104 people who were vaccinated at pop-up clinics in Windsor hotspots on Monday.
New vaccine appointment slots are added to the health unit booking system daily. Check wevax.ca for a full breakdown of current eligibility criteria or to book an appointment.