The Windsor Essex County Health Unit reported 70 new cases of COVID-19 and one additional death on Friday.
A man in his 80s passed away after contracting the virus. He is the 406th resident of Windsor-Essex to die after testing positive for COVID-19.
There are currently 420 active cases in the community. Among those, 104 have been identified as variants of concern through additional testing.
Hospitalizations and ICU occupancy remains stable in Windsor-Essex. There are currently 15 patients receiving treatment for COVID-19 in local hospitals, four of whom are in the intensive care unit. While most of the province is reporting hospitalizations in a younger age group, local hospitalizations are largely in the 60 plus category.
According to the latest epidemiological study presented by the health unit, the percentage of tests coming back positive and the overall case rate per 100,000 residents is on the rise locally. Over the last seven days, there have been 72 cases per 100,000 residents and 5.5 per cent of tests conducted are coming back positive.
There are now eight active outbreaks in the community including at two schools. The health unit recently declared an outbreak at Centennial Central Public School and St. Peter Catholic School.
