WINDSOR, ONT. -- The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is reporting one new COVID-19 case on Friday.

Medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed says the new cases is a close contact of a confirmed case.

Ahmed gave his weekly epi-summary on Friday. He says Windsor-Essex saw an increase in cases in children.Age and Sex Distribution

“We have seen a large number of children between 0-19 who contracted COVID-19 in the past two weeks compared to what we have seen overall since the beginning of this pandemic,” says Ahmed. “Which is somewhat concerning knowing that school opening is right around the corner.”

He is reminding parents to keep a close eye of their children and make sure they are following the public health measures.

The health unit is in the process of recruiting and hiring 19 nurses to work with local schools.

The region has had a total of 2,542 confirmed cases of the virus, including 2378 people who have recovered.Map of COVID-19 cases in Windsor-Essex

There have been 74 deaths related to COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex. Fifty-two deaths are related to residents in retirement or long-term care homes and two are related to migrant workers.

There is one retirement home in outbreak status. New Beginnings in Leamington has 21 residents and six staff members who have tested positive.

One workplace is reporting an outbreak - a manufacturing facility in Tecumseh.

More coming.