Windsor-Essex top doc comfortable with further easing of COVID-19 rules

The Windsor-Essex medical officer of health says he thinks the regionis ready for looserCOVID-19 restrictions,given the high vaccination rate and low case ratesin the community.

"Even from last week to this week,I think we are moving in a better direction, with case rates consistently coming into a position which makes me feel much more comfortable every day," Dr. Wajid Ahmed said during the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU)briefing broadcast onYouTube Wednesday.

Ahmed said he hasn't yet advocatedfor the easing oflocal restrictions but would do so when and ifdiscussions occurred with the provincial government, which has authority over the matter.

But, he said, if the province was toallowthe region to move to Step 2 of the provincialreopening framework ahead of schedule for example, this weekend or nexthe'd be comfortable with that solong as the current trends stayed on course.

Ahmedmade the comments on the same day the health unitannounced that 25.5 per cent of all adults in the region are now fully vaccinated.

Provincialvaccination rates are onecomponentof Ontario'sCOVID-19 reopening road map, the first step of which took effect lastFriday.

In order for the provincial government to green lightashift to the second phase, the provincemustreach a 70 per cent adultvaccination rate, and 20 per cent of adults must have both doses. Since the plan also mandatesathree-week period between phases, the earliest date this could occur is the first week of July.

Step 2 permits indoor gatherings up to five people, outdoor gatherings of up to 25 and the resumption of personal care services including athair salons.

Mixing vaccines safe, effective

For the second time this week, Ahmed stressed in his introductory remarks that it has been provensafe and effective to mix and match COVID-19 vaccines, and there is scientific research backing this approach.

Residents getting a different vaccine productfor theirsecond dose than their first might also prove important for getting the populationfully vaccinatedsooner than later, because the province is expecting a large influx of Moderna vaccines this month, some of which are bound forWindsor-Essex.

WECHU CEO Theresa Marentette explained that Windsor-Essex is getting 17,000 doses later this week to start.

"There's a lot of Moderna coming to our area that will beacross all ofthe channels that distribute the vaccine," she said, referencing public health and hospital-runvaccination sites, pharmacies and primary care provider-ledclinics.

So far, anyone getting their second dose at one of the sixmass vaccination sites is most likely to receive the same product as they did for their first shot.But the health unit anticipates that could change soon, given the upcomingincrease in the Moderna supply and the fact that the Pfizer-BioNTech shot has been the dominant vaccine in the vaccination rollout.

The use of different products for second doses is already occurring atpharmacies and clinics run by primary care providers.

So far,354,949 vaccine doses have been administered to Windsor-Essex residents, and266,287 peoplehave had at least one dose. Overall,72.8 per cent of adultshave gotten at least one dose.

9 new cases

Meanwhile, the health unit reported nine new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Of those new cases, three are close contacts of confirmed casesand six were community acquired, meaning there is no known transmission source.

There are 89 active cases, down from more than 200 just over two weeks ago, along with five outbreaks.

Ten local residents have been hospitalized for COVID-19, including three in intensive care.

There are three outbreaks taking place at workplaces:

• One workplace in Windsor'shealth-care and social assistance sector.
• Two manufacturing workplaces in Tecumseh.

Two community outbreaks are also ongoing:

• Casa de Dios y Puerta del Cielo church in Windsor.
• Southwest Detention Centre in Windsor.

COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton

Lambton Public Health reported threenew cases and one additional death Wednesday. Overall, one outbreak is ongoing in Sarnia-Lambtonandthere are 24 active cases of COVID-19. Seventy-one per cent of adults have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 18per cent have gotten both required shots.

Chatham-Kent Public Health reported two new cases on Wednesday,with sevenconsidered active overall. Sixty-six per cent of all those eligible (age 12 and up) have gotten at least one dose, and 16 per cent have received both.

Who is eligible for vaccination?

Currently, anyone 12 and up is eligible to book their first dose in Windsor-Essex, and the following groups are eligible to book an appointment for a second dose:

• Those who are 70 and olderor turning 70 this year who had their first dose more than 28 days ago.
• Those vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines on or before April 18.
• Those who meet the criteria for a second dose but received their first shot outside of the province.
• Those who received anAstraZenecashot as their first dose on or before April 23,and wantto choose adifferent vaccine for their second shot.
• Those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine on or before April 23and want a second dose of that product (pharmacies or primary care clinics only.)
• Some high risk health-care workers, people with some health conditions, First Nations, Mtis, and Inuit people and retirement home residents. Full details areavailableon the WECHUwebsite.