The COVID-19 case rate continues to decline while the overall vaccination rate is increasing in Windsor-Essex.
Over the last seven days, there were 23.5 cases per 100,000 residents while the last reported case rate was 30.1.
Around 4,385 people were tested for COVID-19 last week and 3 per cent of tests came back positive. This also shows a decline from the previous week.
To date, 72.2 per cent of adults in Windsor-Essex are partially vaccinated while 18.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Over the last week, around 5,100 vaccines are administered daily in the region. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said the majority of the doses given out were second doses, indicating the region may be reaching a vaccination plateau.
"I was hoping that we would see at least 70 per cent coverage for each of the age bands. We need a good mix of coverage across all of these age groups," said Dr. Ahmed.
Currently, nearly 80 per cent of people aged 40 and older have received at least one dose of a vaccine while only 53.6 per cent of residents aged 25-29 have been vaccinated.
He said in order to see a continued decline in cases, people need to continue to be vaccinated.
"If you are getting the vaccine then you will continue to see those numbers decline in the cases and the virus will not have a viable host to survive. So it is more than important for everyone to get the vaccine, get our coverage rate high, and keep our community open," said Dr. Ahmed.
As the province enters into Stage 1 of reopening, Dr. Ahmed is urging everyone to keep public health measures in mind.
"Enjoy what's available to you. Enjoy the outdoors, enjoy the patio if you are doing that. If you are going out in the community, make sure that you still keep in mind that the pandemic is still not over. It's in a much better state right now in Windsor Essex. We'd like to keep it that way," said Dr. Ahmed.
On Friday, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit reported 13 new cases of COVID-19. There are 131 active cases in the community and 60 of them have been identified as variants of concern.
Local hospitals are treating 13 patients with COVID-19 and four of them are in the intensive care unit.