CBC Windsor's April 8 COVID-19 update: 7 people have died

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported there are 244 cases of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex and seven people have died in the area.

A woman in her 90s who was at a long-term care home is the latest person in our area to die from the disease.

According to the health unit's website, four females and three males have succumbed to COVID-19.

Additionally, of the seven people who have died in Windsor-Essex due to COVID-19, four were from long-term care facilities or retirement homes, according to a health unit spokesperson.

The spokesperson said no additional information about the four deaths associated with long-term care facilities will be provided at this time, out of respect for individual privacy.

In Windsor-Essex, 13 peoplehave recovered from the disease. About 1,823 people have been tested and202 test results are pending.

The health unit is working with seven long-term care and retirement homes in the area that are currently experiencing and outbreak of COVID-19.

WATCH | The health unit'sCOVID-19 update for April 8:

Medical officer of health, Dr. Wajid Ahmed urged health-care workers who cross the border daily to self-isolate when not at work, even from family members who they live with. Those workers should not be running errands and need to keep themselves separated from others, said Ahmed.

"The number of cases across the border is much higher than what we have here in Windsor," said Ahmed.

Ahmedexplained that people should continue to self-isolate from people who do not live with them in their homes. That means no visiting even with other family members if they do not live with you.

"These measures take a long time to see impact," said Ahmed. "It will take us longer to be in a position when it comes to the number of cases and what we see in our community."

More guide linesand recommendations about COVID-19 can be found on the health unit's website.

Here's what's happening in our area:

• LaSalle resident shares health-care worker husband's COVID-19 journey, says disease like 'wildfire'
• More than 730 Henry Ford Health System employees have tested positive for COVID-19
• Windsor Ford plant has already shipped more than 3,700 face shields to front-line workers across the region

3 firefighters test positive for COVID-19

On Tuesday, Windsor fire Chief Stephen Laforet confirmedthat three firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19and are isolating at home.

Laforet said he first learned of two initial cases sometime last week.The third case was confirmed Tuesday evening.

Two of three firefighters who tested positive were at Windsor Fire Station 5 on Northwood Street. The station was closed for a few hours Tuesday for cleaning, but has since re-opened.

Sarnia-Lambtonoutbreak

The health unit in Sarnia-Lambton reported 87confirmed cases on Tuesday. Eight people have died in Lambton County. Five people have recovered.

Landmark Village seniors' home in Sarnia, Ont. is experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak with at least 21 confirmed cases in residents or staff members at the facility as of Wednesday. Four residents have died.

Chatham-Kent cases

Chatham-Kent Public Health reports there are 17confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region and one person in that community has died.

Four of those 17people who were diagnosed have made a full recovery.

Tip lines

Hundreds of people around our listening area are calling in tips about people not following the rules in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Special hotlines have been set up to field complaints in Chatham-Kent and Sarnia.

This week, one of the tips resulted in Sarnia Police handing a $750 fine to a senior who was refusing to stay home for 14 days after returning to Canada from a trip.

• Windsor-Essex residents wondering who to call for COVID-19 delinquencies

"Nobody likes these rules. I don't like being told what to do in my private life. Nobody does, but the fact is we're doing this all for the good of the community, so Sarnia police are going to continue to be out there with Sarnia bylaw, and we're gonna enforce the law," said Sarnia police Chief Norm Hansen.

In Windsor, there is no single point of contact.

"We think 3-1-1 can be that resource," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. "We want to make sure the right person responds to the call ... if it's after hours when 3-1-1 isn't open use the police non-emergency line."

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit said anyone with concerns about restaurants, bars, tobacco or vape shops that areopen when they shouldn't be, can contact thehealth unit.

Non-essential businesses being open, people who are not physicallydistancing, or groups of five or more people can be reported to3-1-1 in Windsor or local by-law offices in your municipality.

Anyone not self-isolating or quarantiningreport to non-emergency line for police services who will follow up with the health unit who can then issue an order if necessary.

Child care for emergency support workers

The Province of Ontario has approved and is funding the City of Windsor, Children's Services Department'sEmergency Child Care Plan.

The care is being offered free of charge to health-care and frontline workers on the province's approved list.

Applications must be made directly through the City of Windsor, Children's Services Department to ensure eligibility requirements are met.