The Medical Officer of Health in Windsor-Essex is not too concerned about a live music event in downtown Windsor this weekend, but he urges people to keep their distance from each other.
The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association hosts live music Friday night and Saturday night on Ouellette Avenue and University Avenue West.
Doctor Wajid Ahmed pointed to research in Holland and reminded the public one event could result in many COVID-19 cases, but he said the risk is much lower when the event is outside.
He even suggested those who want to go mask-free can but insisted social distancing is a must.
"Make sure you understand the risk that is associated with that, and you are taking the precautions that you need to take, especially when you are around people, and you don't know their status," he said.
It is one of the first big events in the region since the start of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Ahmed is again raising concerns about the region's slowing vaccination rates and the increase in cases involving the Delta variant around the world. Those cases are increasing significantly in the United Kingdom, Spain, France and the U.S.
The health unit reported four cases on Friday, two of which were acquired in the community. The other two were from close contact with another confirmed case.
The case rate in Windsor-Essex is up slightly. The rolling seven-day average is 5.6 cases daily, and the rate of infection is now 1.41, meaning one infected person in the community is infecting 1.4 others.
The region's vaccination rate also appears to have stalled. The health unit said it was giving out an average of 3,300 doses a day last week. Over the past seven days, it was only administering 2,100.
Asked why he thinks fewer people are getting the shot, Ahmed speculated it could be because the case rate is still slow, and maybe the public doesn't think it is as urgent. More people are travelling, and therefore it is not top of mind. He also pointed to misinformation spreading on social media.
"The best thing we need to do is, stop listening to them," he said. "Talk to the experts who you can trust. Experts that you know. Not necessarily listen to me. If you don't want to listen to me, by all means, don't listen to me, but you have your family care providers."
He admitted it could be frustrating knowing who to believe, but asked whether if we want to prolong the pandemic.
Ahmed was one of five top health officials in Windsor-Essex who penned a letter earlier this week urging people to get vaccinated before a fourth wave of the pandemic reaches the region.
Across Ontario on Friday, cases were again above the 200 mark. A total of 226 were reported, along with 11 new deaths from the virus.