The number of active COVID-19 cases in Sarnia-Lambton has surpassed the 200 mark.
Lambton Public Health reported 57 new infections on Thursday and 23 resolved cases. The local active case count is now at 206.
There have been a total of 4,796 confirmed cases in the region since the pandemic started. There have also been a total of 4,510 resolved cases.
The number of active COVID-19 outbreaks in the community has increased by one to 10. The latest outbreak was declared at an unnamed workplace.
The health unit also updated the total number of deaths related to COVID-19 to 80. Bluewater Health reported the death of a Lambton area man in his 70s on Wednesday.
Bluewater Health is currently caring for 17 COVID-positive patients, which is an increase of three patients since Wednesday's report.
In his final media briefing of 2021, Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said the Omicron variant has forced goals to change.
"The goal that we're trying to achieve is, despite lots of people getting COVID, that most people will not have severe disease because they've been vaccinated and that we can continue to provide care to people who need it, whether or not they have COVID."
Ranade said due to the number of people anxious to get their third COVID-19 vaccine dose, many will have to wait longer than they want. However, the health unit is looking at everything it can do to make it easier and quicker for people to get their booster dose.
"What we knew would happen and what did happen is that as eligibility opened up to larger and larger groups, those groups booked very quickly online," said Ranade. "[That] essentially crowded out the 70 plus [group] many of whom -- but not all of whom -- are less interested in using online methods to book.
A booster walk-in clinic for the 70 plus age group was held in Forest this week but reached full capacity within an hour of opening.
"We've never really done that full drop-in model for a large group of people and that seemed to work out well. I think it's still really important to focus on the 70 plus [age group] because they are the ones at the highest risk," said Ranade.
During the walk-in clinic, 552 booster shots were administered.