Health Unit restricting activities amid climbing case counts

By Mark Ribble

WINDSOR-ESSEX — The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is pumping the brakes on indoor social gatherings as COVID-19 cases surge in the area.

The WECHU issued a letter of instruction over the weekend which will restrict indoor and outdoor gatherings going forward in an attempt to slow down the current trajectory.

A similar letter of instruction was issued by the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit on Monday evening, with specific instruction for workplaces.

As of 12:01 a.m. Friday, December 10, social gatherings will be limited to 10 people inside and 25 outside.

Added measures for wedding receptions and social events tied to funerals and religious services will also be in place.

In Windsor-Essex, Bars and restaurants will now be limited to 50 per cent capacity and strict adherence to face covering requirements will be enforced in all public settings.

“We are very worried that we are already seeing this surge of cases in advance of the holiday season and its associated social gatherings,” says WECHU Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai. “Immediate action needs to be taken by all residents to address the known sources of transmission which are social gatherings, both in homes and in the community.”

Those feelings are supported by Erie Shores HealthCare CEO Kristin Kennedy, who says the numbers are rising in the hospital.

“I would encourage people, for the best interests of their neighbours and families, to be cautious and diligent this holiday season,” she said. “One preventable death is one too many.”

Kennedy says vaccinations are working but more needs to be done.

Windsor-Essex weekly case rates a month ago hovered around 39 cases per 100,000 population. That number is now well over 100.

The announcement comes on the heels of recent restrictions implemented in other Ontario health regions with increasing case counts.

“These additional measures are necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We will continue to review regularly and adjust based on our local data”, said health unit Chief Executive Officer, Nicole Dupuis.

Visit wechu.org for more details in Windsor-Essex.

In Chatham-Kent, you can find more information at ckphu.com.