With COVID-19 cases on the rise, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is putting restrictions in place to curb the spread.
"We are very worried that we are already seeing this surge of cases in advance of the holiday season and its associated social gatherings," WECHU Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai said.
"Immediate action needs to be taken by all residents to address the known sources of transmission which are social gatherings, both in homes and in the community," he added.
The measures being taken by the WECHU include the following:
• Social gatherings limited to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors.
• Added measures for wedding receptions and the social events tied to funerals and religious services.
• Limiting indoor capacity for bars and restaurants to 50% of their total occupancy.
• Strict adherence to face covering requirements in all public settings.
The announcement in Windsor-Essex follows recent restrictions implemented in other Ontario health regions with increasing case counts.
The new measures come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, December 10.
The full Letter of Instruction, as well as frequently asked questions, can be found on the WECHU website.