Theresa Marentette figures she will sleep, take walks, and reflect on the past year and a half.
Wednesday is the CEO of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit's last day on the job. Her retirement starts Thursday. Nicole Dupuis will take over her position.
Marentette and Medical Officer of Health Doctor Wajid Ahmed have been the face of the region's pandemic response for the past 18 months, and she believes she is leaving Windsor-Essex in a good place.
"You know, it's good. And, to be opening, to be at Step Two as well, we have come so far," she said during her final YouTube briefing. "I recall where we were last year when it was just really beginning. We've come a long way."
As of Wednesday morning, 74 per cent of all adults over the age of 18 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. So far, 156,631 people, or 45 per cent, have had two.
"I know tomorrow will be my first day off in a long, long time," said Marentette. "I think I will have a day of reflection about many things -- the amazing leadership team, our middle management team, our staff. It's the relationships that we've built this past year."
As for Dupuis, Marentette said the two have worked alongside each other for years, and they have shared advice, commiserated, and supported one another through it all. She does have one piece of advice.
"Taking it one day at a time has worked for us through this pandemic and doing your best," said Marentette. "I think she's already there."
The health unit did report one additional death on Wednesday. A woman in her 70s who lived in the community is the region's 435th fatality from COVID-19.
There were also ten new cases. Of those, four people were infected in the community, one picked up the virus while travelling in the U.S., and the other five are still under investigation.
Marentette announced the Unemployed Help Centre is holding a walk-in vaccination clinic Wednesday until 3 p.m. Teens between 12 and 17 who go should register first.
The new mass vaccination clinic at Devonshire Mall is also hosting special hours for teens in that age group to get their first shot.
The health unit is also paring back its briefings to once a week. Ahmed will deliver the epidemiological summary on Fridays on YouTube.
