Over the past 24 hours, another eight people have died of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex.
The region also hit a new peak in the number of cases reported daily with 272.
Also on Thursday, Public Health Ontario reported a new record for the province with 3,328 new cases and 56 deaths.
Of the local fatalities, seven were in long-term care. A woman in her 60s, and six men ranging in age from their 60s to their 90s died. A man in his 60s who lived in the community also passed.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit said it is still investigating how 223 of Thursday’s cases were acquired. Forty-six were connected to the region’s 42 outbreaks, and three are from close contact with someone the health unit has already confirmed to have the virus.
The number of active cases in the community continues to climb, as does the number of patients in the hospital. There are now 1,933 active cases on public health officials radar, and 100 people fighting COVID-19 in the hospital.
The health unit’s report Thursday did not include suspected cases. All 100 of the patients listed have tested positive.
On Wednesday, Medical Officer of Health Doctor Wajid Ahmed urged residents to stay home New Year’s Eve saying the risk of infection is higher than ever.
He also told reporters he will be reviewing the data next week and deciding then whether to extend school closures in the region.
While classes start on Monday, students across the province will learn from home. Right now, the province plans to reopen elementary schools on January 11, and secondary school on January 25.
All schools in Windsor-Essex have been closed since December 14 by order of the health unit.
