COVID hospitalizations, death count rise again in Windsor-Essex

Article content

Windsor-Essex is seeing another consecutive week of increases in COVID-19 metrics such as hospitalizations and deaths.

Article content

According to a data update from the health unit on Tuesday, there are now 74 COVID patients in local hospitals — up from 59 cases exactly one week ago.

Four of those cases are in intensive care units.

Tuesday’s update also reported a new COVID-19 fatality in the region: The deceased was described as a woman in her 90s who resided in the community.

The woman’s passing brings the overall COVID-19 death toll in Windsor-Essex to 608 people.

As of Tuesday, the health unit is counting 361 active “high risk” cases in Windsor-Essex, and is monitoring 26 active outbreak situations.

Of those, 13 outbreaks are in long-term care facilities or retirement homes, five are in hospital units, seven are in the community, and one is at a workplace.

The region’s COVID-19 vaccination rate stands at 83.7 per cent of all residents ages five and older having received at least two doses.

Some 51.5 per cent of residents ages 12 and older have received a third dose/booster shot.

Currently in Ontario, only adults ages 60 and older and indigenous people 18 and older are eligible for a fourth dose. Thus far, 14,124 Windsor-Essex residents have received a fourth dose.