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More than 500 Windsor-Essex residents have died as a result of COVID-19.
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The local health unit reported the COVID-related deaths of four more people on Friday, bringing the region’s number of pandemic deaths to 501.
The most recent lives lost were two men and two women in their 70s. They all lived in the general community.
“When the pandemic was first declared in March 2020, I don’t think any of us expected to continue counting cases and marking these tragic losses of life almost two years later,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
“While each of us has suffered some type of loss during this public health crisis, none more so than those who have lost a loved family member or friend to COVID-19.”
More than 10,000 Ontarians have lost their lives to the disease, “parents, children, wives, husbands, fathers, brothers and sisters who lost a battle that no one wanted to fight,” Dilkens said.
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“As we collectively fight to see the light at the end of this dark pandemic tunnel, please take a moment today to reflect on all those who will not see the other side with us. Get vaccinated, recover, and continue to follow public health restrictions to save lives and reduce pressure on our dedicated healthcare workers. “
The region’s first COVID death was reported in early April 2020. At least 169 local deaths since then were residents of long-term care homes, many of whom succumbed to complications from COVID during the peak of the second wave. of the pandemic.
At the time, about a year ago, the health unit was recording multiple COVID deaths each day, including a record 17 deaths reported on January 6. Fourteen of them lived in nursing homes and long-term care.
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The youngest local person to die as a result of COVID-19 was a person under the age of 20. No further details about the person’s exact age or sex have been released since the death was reported last November.
The health unit recorded 359 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, an underestimate of the true number of cases in Windsor-Essex due to changes in eligibility for testing.
To date, 28,092 local residents have tested positive. Of those, 2,644 cases are active, the highest count since January 18, 2021.
Hospitals in the area have 49 COVID patients, nine of them in intensive care.
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COVID outbreaks are active in two child care centers, a workplace, 11 nursing homes and long-term care, and 14 community settings. Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is also dealing with an outbreak.
So far, 81% of Windsor-Essex residents age five and older have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and another six percent have received one.
Booster vaccines were administered to 141,370 local adults.
To book an appointment for a first, second, or third dose, visit wevax.ca , call 226-773-2200 or contact a participating pharmacy or healthcare provider.
Reference-windsorstar.com