More seniors die of COVID-19 as Windsor-Essex health unit hopes to finish vaccinating homes soon

As the death toll of Windsor-Essex seniors continues to rise, the local health unit says hopes to finish vaccinating all of the region's carefacilities before the provincialJan. 21 target.

On Wednesday, medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said the health unit is on track to vaccinate staff and residents of long-term care and retirement homes. Should it continue to followthatschedule, Ahmed said it will likely get all of the facilities vaccinated soon and before the province's Jan. 21 deadline.

By Wednesday end of day, health unit CEO Theresa Marentette said itwill have vaccinated nine long-term care homes.

This news comes as the health unit reported 17 new deaths Wednesday, 14 of whom were residents of long-term care and retirement homes.

In particular the resident death toll at The Village at St. Clair a long-term care home experiencing the region's largest COVID-19 outbreak has increased to 33, according to provincial data.The home has had144 resident cases and 104staff cases since its outbreak began.

The health unit reported 170 new COVID-19 casesregion Wednesday. In total 187 people have died from the disease.

Of the new deaths, the 14 from long-term care and retirement homes include:

• A man in his 70s.
• Four women and two men in their 80s.
• Four women and two men in their 90s.
• A woman in her 100s.

Three deaths were from the community, including:

• A man in his 70s.
• A man in his 80s.
• A woman in her 90s.

There are 92 people in hospital, with 15 in the ICU and an additional 176 hospitalized who are suspected to have COVID-19.

Forty-three outbreaks across various sectors remain active.

There is one school outbreakatSt. Rose Catholic Elementary School.

Ahmed said that by Thursday, the community will know what to expect in terms of whether students will continue withonline, remote learning or go back to in-person classes.

Twohospital outbreaks are also ongoing, atHotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and Windsor Regional Hospital's Met campus.

Threecommunity settings Salvation Army Centre of Hope andtwoAssisted Living Southwestern Ontario locations are also in active outbreak.

Outbreaks are active at 16workplaces:

• Three in Leamington's agriculture sector.
• Fourin Kingsville's agriculture sector.
• Three in Windsor's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Lakeshore's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Tecumseh's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Leamington's health care and social assistance sector.
• One in Windsor's food and beverage service sector.
• One in a personal service setting in LaSalle.
• One in a public administration setting in Windsor.

There are 19COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care and retirement homes:

• Seasons Retirement Home in Amherstburg with one staff case.
• Devonshire Retirement Residence in Windsor, with four resident cases.
• Iler Lodge in Essex, with one staff case.
• Chartwell Royal Oak in Kingsville,with one staff case.
• Rosewood Erie Glen in Leamington, with nine resident cases.
• Chateau Park in Windsor with four staff cases.
• Leamington Mennonite Home in Leamington, with fourstaff cases.
• Brouillette Manor in Tecumseh, with twostaff cases.
• Augustine Villas in Kingsville, with 14 resident and fivestaff cases.
• Sunrise Assisted Living of Windsor, with five resident cases and sixstaff cases.
• Huron Lodge in Windsor, with 43resident cases and 16staff cases.
• Sun Parlor Home in Leamington, with sixstaff cases.
• Banwell Gardens Care Centre in Windsor, with 79resident cases and 34staff cases.
• The Shoreview at Riverside in Windsor, with 22 resident cases and eight staff cases.
• Extendicare Tecumseh, with 74resident cases and 29staff cases.
• Berkshire Care Centre in Windsor, with 89resident and 53staff cases.
• The Village at St. Clair in Windsor, with 144 resident cases and 104staff cases.
• Chartwell St. Clair Beach in Tecumseh, with 53resident cases and 12 staff cases.
• Village of Aspen Lake in Tecumseh, with 34resident cases and 15staff cases.