The Windsor Essex Health Unit really hopes the public supports its new virtual assistant aimed at cutting the amount of time it takes to trace contacts of positive COVID-19 cases.
It has been testing the new tool over the past week, but CEO Theresa Marentette publicly announced it today.
Residents can go to the health unit’s website to sign up.
It will ask for your name and cell phone number, and if you are named as a contact of someone who tests positive for the virus, you will get a text message.
Marentette told reporters the new system will allow public health officials reach those who need to self-isolate faster, cutting the rate of transmission in the community.
As cases continue to climb in Windsor-Essex, so too does the number of people the health unit needs to notify. As of Tuesday, there are 1,797 active COVID-19 cases in the community.
The region lost two more people to the virus. Marentette announced the deaths of a woman in her 70s who lived in the community Tuesday, and a man who lived in long-term care. He was also in his 70s. Since March, 129 people have died because of the virus locally.
Another 157 cases were also added to the total caseload Tuesday morning. Of those, 16 are connected to the 44 outbreaks in the region, and 141 are still being investigated.
The province of Ontario reported 2,553 new cases Tuesday, with 41 new deaths. 864 people across Ontario are in hospital, with 304 in the intensive care unit.
