Dr. Ahmed likes dropping virus infection numbers

Ahmed says deaths, hospitalizations are `lagging indicator' from a month ago

The medical officer of health for Windsor-essex is crediting residents who follow public health measures for the recent decline in COVID-19 infections.

“It's more important than ever ... to understand the value and importance of following these measures. These measures work,” Dr. Wajid Ahmed said about local and provincial restrictions that require residents to stay home as much as possible, among other things.

“That's why we're seeing a decline. And we should continue to see that decline when people follow these measures.

“We are making progress little by little with respect to the number of daily cases — slight improvements.”

The health unit on Thursday reported 101 new cases of COVID -19, in line with a recent trend of single-day case increases that have fluctuated as low as 35 and as high as 277 — all while indicating a decline in the local rate of infection.

Ahmed said he would like to see daily COVID -19 numbers go down to double digits and eventually single digits, but for now he describes himself as hopeful and optimistic.

“All of this progress that we've made, it is the efforts of everyone coming together and doing their part in preventing the spread of the disease. We would like to see that continue.”

Despite the easing infection rate, the high number of deaths and hospitalizations occurring now are a “lagging indicator” of activity in the region from about a month ago, Ahmed said. Widespread community transmission then caused the case count to rise rapidly, the consequence of which is currently rearing its head.

In the last two weeks, 90 people have died as a result of COVID-19. That's 30 per cent of all COVID fatalities in the region since the first local death was reported on April 1, nearly 300 days ago.

Three deaths were reported on Thursday, all women who lived in long-term care and retirement homes. They were in their 70s, 80s, and 90s.

There are also 110 people with COVID-19 in hospital, and 16 of them are in intensive care. Another 167 patients have suspected cases of COVID -19 but have not yet received their test results.

“It is important to understand the importance of taking action early before we get to the point of increased hospitalization and our people dying,” Ahmed said.

There are 49 active COVID-19 outbreaks across Windsor-essex.

Three workplace outbreaks were rescinded, leaving 24 workplaces with active outbreaks, including 11 farms in Leamington and Kingsville. The health unit reported that 57 farm workers have active cases of COVID-19, while 255 more recent farm cases are resolved and 104 are isolating at hotels.

No new long-term care and retirement home outbreaks were declared on Thursday, and none of the homes were removed from the outbreak list, which currently names 19 facilities. The health unit reported only a few additional infections at those homes when compared to Wednesday.

Windsor Regional Hospital is managing two outbreaks at Met campus (the 6N and 4N units) and two at Ouellette campus (the 6E and 4M units).

Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare has an active outbreak at its Emara facility.

Two community outbreaks are still active at the Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario locations on Sandwich Street and Longfellow Avenue.