6 New Cases Of COVID-19 In Windsor Essex As Of Thursday, Health Unit Now Recommends Wearing Masks

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The Windsor Essex County Health Unit has confirmed 6 additional cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday morning, bringing the local total to 751. They said 387 people locally have recovered.

Cases increased from 745 on Wednesday May 13th to 751 on Thursday May 14th.

The Health Unit says there have been no additional deaths due to COVID-19 as of Thursday and the local COVID-19 death toll stands at 62.

Of the 62 total, local deaths, the Health Unit says 47 deaths have been residents of long-term care and retirement homes.

The Health Unit says there are outbreaks at 17 long-term care and retirement homes: Banwell Gardens, Regency Park, AMICA, Sun Parlour, Lifetimes on Riverside, Franklin Gardens, Heron Terrace, Country Village Homes, Village at St. Clair, Chartwell Oak Park LaSalle, Berkshire, Chartwell Kingsville Retirement Residence, Extendicare Southwood Lakes, Dolce Vita, Leamington Mennonite Home, Riverside Place, and Chartwell Oak Park Terrace.

The Health Unit’s data shows a total of 190 residents and 92 staff of local long-term care and retirement homes have, or have had COVID-19 as of Thursday.

As of Thursday morning, 12,927 tests have been conducted and 1,704 tests are pending.

Dr. Ahmed says the turnaround time for test results is still between 4 and 7 days and some of the delays relate to transporting the tests to labs, and redirecting them to other labs when there are capacity issues at certain lab locations.

Health Unit CEO Theresa Marentette says the jump in recoveries from 300 on Wednesday to 387 on Thursday is due to the Health Unit following up on cases that were previously listed as unknown, and 17 cases who were self isolating and who have now recovered.  Marentette also announced Windsor-Essex’s youngest confirmed COVID-19 case so far has been an eight year old but offered no further details.

Wearing Masks

Dr. Ahmed said there has been a shift recently with many people now wearing masks, and based on the fact that less people are staying home, the Health Unit is now recommending residents wear cloth masks.

“The likelihood of people coming into contact with other people is getting higher, and masks add an extra level of protection when people are unable to maintain two metres of distancing,” he said.  “Wearing a cloth mask reduces the likelihood of you spreading respiratory droplets to others.  In other words, it can protect others from your germs.  They do not protect you from the germs of others.”

“When people use these masks at a community level, we will reduce the risk of spreading this disease,” he said.

Dr. Ahmed said cloth masks are an additional layer of protection and do not replace any of the other public health measures including physical distancing, hand washing and limiting trips into the community.

He said cloth masks can however become a source of infection if worn improperly or used incorrectly.  He said mask users should wash their hands immediately before putting a mask on, should use the air loops or ties to secure it, should ensure the mask fits snugly around the mouth and nose, and should not touch or adjust the mask while wearing it.  Masks should not be worn by children under the age of 2, Dr. Ahmed said.

He said when removing a mask, use the air loops or ties and do not touch the front of the mask, then place the mask into a washing machine, wash your hands, and then wash the mask using soap and hot water.