2021 - THE YEAR IN REVIEW - FEBRUARY

Health Unit outlines vaccine strategy

The Windsor Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has narrowed down dates expected for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

With some of the rollout already underway, WECHU has broken the rollout down into three phases.

Phase 1 — High risk population; began December 14, 2020; Limited vaccine supply. These vaccines went to LTC home residents, employees and hospital front line workers.

Phase 2 — Mass vaccination begins; Expected start March/April 2021; Significant and steady increase of vaccine supply. Essential workers and adults over age 75 will be targeted first. This stage is expected to vaccinate the bulk of the Windsor Essex population.

Phase 3 — Steady State; Expected start September 2021. This will be remaining eligible residents. Less than 30,000 people should be left to vaccinate at this stage.

Kingsville tax increase 1.2%

The 2021 municipal tax increase for the Town of Kingsville is being held at 1.2 per cent.

When combined with the County and Education tax rate, the overall residential tax rate increase will be 0.8 per cent.

Mayor Nelson Santos said that the original draft came in higher, but they managed to chip away at it and get it down to the 1.2 per cent they settled on.

Province issues stay-at-home-order

Ontario will begin the process of re-opening over the coming weeks, with the current stay-athome order set to expire on Tuesday, February 16.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Monday, with local plans still undecided at press time.

Janitorial contract re-awarded

The Municipality of Leamington has once again changed municipal janitorial contractors.

In late November, Leamington Council awarded the janitorial contract to Cheema Cleaning Services of Calendon, Ontario.

During the process of finalizing the agreement, Cheema was unable to fullfill the terms of the contract and administration has recommended awarding the contract to the previous company, locally-owned M&S Janitorial.

Health Unit hopes to start vaccinating by mid-March

Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, says that COVID-19 vaccines could be in the arms of the 79+ general population, as early as mid-March.

At his daily briefing on Monday morning, Ahmed said that, provided the vaccine supply arrives as promised, the health unit is making preparations to facilitate vaccinating seniors in different areas throughout the county.

Justin Latam and The Stride release new single

Anyone in tune with the local music scene, probably already knows who Justin Latam is. Known locally as the ‘barefoot musician’, Latam has been plying his trade for the past 15 years, performing at festivals, concerts and events in and around Essex County and beyond. Latam and his band, The Stride, recently released a new single, called Stray Dog, and will follow with a brand new single called Secondhand on February 28.

Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent out of lockdown

Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent are among 27 public health regions to re-enter the COVID-19 Response Framework as of Tuesday morning at 12:01 am.

While Toronto, Peel, York and North Bay-Parry Sound remain in shutdown, Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent are among 11 regions going to the Red: Control Level. A dozen more regions moved to orange, yellow or green zones.