The Windsor-Essex region continues to have the highest COVID-19 case rate in the province and a low vaccination rate compared to several other health units.
In the last seven days, there have been 113.4 cases per 100,00 residents. That marks an increase from the previous week, when the rate was 110 cases per 100,000 residents.
To date, 73.5 per cent of eligible residents have been fully vaccinated. Since more vaccination policies have been implemented and the province announced a plan for vaccine passports, there has been an increase of the number of daily doses given. Over the last seven days an average of 900 doses of vaccines were given out daily.
The weekly epidemiological study completed by the Windsor Essex County Health Unit shows the infection rate among unvaccinated individuals is more than five times greater than vaccinated individuals.
"Once cases hit a certain threshold, it takes longer for us to contain and it will take much stronger measures to contain. So we definitely don't want to see the situation get further, bad, before we start to take more drastic measures," said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed.
On Thursday, the health unit reported 73 more cases in the region, bringing the active number of cases to 546. Of those, 367 have been identified as a variant of concern.
The health unit also reported the death of a man in his 50s. He is among 444 individuals in the community who have lost their lives after testing positive for the virus.
Hospitalizations and ICU rates also continue to rise in the community. There are currently 24 patients being treated for COVID-19 in local hospitals. Windsor Regional Hospital is reporting nine patients in its care, four are unvaccinated and one is partially vaccinated. There are three patients in the intensive care unit and none of them are fully vaccinated.
The health unit continues to monitor 18 outbreaks in the region.
WECHU is now doing its weekly epi-summaries on Thursdays. Live YouTube broadcasts will take place on Mondays and Thursdays.