The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has confirmed a man in his 70s has passed away from COVID-19.
The man, who lived in the community, is the 580th Windsor-Essex resident to pass away from the virus since the pandemic began almost two years ago.
The number of patients in area hospitals is dropping, after rising slightly over the past week. As of 2:30 p.m. Friday, there was a total of 35 people being treated for COVID-19.
At Windsor Regional Hospital, there are 24 patients admitted, with 13 in hospital primarily for the virus. Seventeen of the 24 patients were fully vaccinated, with the rest partially vaccinated or not at all. There are two people in intensive care, both fully vaccinated.
At Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, there were seven patients admitted, five of them fully vaccinated. At Erie Shores Healthcare, there were four people, three of them with both doses of a vaccine.
The health unit reported 106 new cases Friday in high-risk settings, but that may be an undercount due to current testing guidelines. The active caseload is up slightly to 275.
There are 18 active outbreaks. Eight of them are in long-term care facilities, six in the community, two in hospitals, and two in workplaces.
The Ontario Ministry of Health reported a continued drop in hospitalizations across the province. On Friday, there were 834 people admitted, including 267 people in the ICU.
