It's not a dramatic rise, but the number of people in Windsor-Essex being hospitalized for COVID-19 is climbing.
As of 12:30 p.m. Friday, the number of patients in the region's three hospital systems is 56, up from 53 on Thursday.
Windsor Regional Hospital had the lion's share of cases with 41, with 25 of them admitted primarily for the treatment of COVID-19. Out of those 41 patients, 31 were fully vaccinated. The hospital had just one unvaccinated patient in intensive care.
Erie Shores Healthcare reported ten patients in hospital on Friday, but only two are being treated for the virus. Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare had five patients at last check.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported 139 new high-risk cases of COVID-19, though this number may be an undercount due to current testing guidelines. The active caseload is up from 383 Thursday to 417 Friday. There were no new deaths.
The health unit is currently monitoring 19 active outbreaks, with 12 in long-term care and retirement facilities, five in the community, and two in hospital wards.
