'We’ll welcome any opportunity to open up': Windsor-Essex MOH says region is ready
The medical officer of health for Windsor-Essex says the region is ready to begin gradual reopening when the province gives the green light.
Dr. Wajid Ahmed said Thursday the number of new COVID-19 cases has been dropping, putting the region in a better position to start reopening businesses.
“Looking at our case rates locally we can, but I just want to be cautious moving forward,” said Ahmed.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is reported a net total of just two new cases on Thursday, and 12 additional cases as part of a data cleanup.
“We’ll welcome any opportunity to open up, but we just want to make sure that it is done in a safe way, without putting the community at risk,” said Ahmed.
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province might enter Step 1 of the roadmap to reopening "several days earlier" than expected.
Elliott told reporters at Queen’s Park Thursday that Ontario is "doing very well" in slowing the spread of COVID-19, which could allow the province to move up the reopening date to earlier than June 14.
Ahmed said a gradual approach is still necessary.
“Overall it looks good, but I just don’t want us to be moving forward too too quickly,” says Ahmed.
Step 1 would allow for Ontario to relax restrictions mainly involving outdoor activities.
Outdoor gathering limits will increase to 10 people, patios can reopen, and non-essential retail reopens at 15 per cent capacity.
Ahmed said Variants of Concern still pose a risk. WECHU says there are 165 active cases in the region, including 91 that have been identified as variants.
“We know that there are other variants that are coming to play as well,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed credits the vigilance of residents following public health measures and vaccine coverage for the decrease in new cases.
“We are doing a good job in terms of vaccine coverage rate and vaccination,” he said.
Over 70 per cent of Windsor-Essex residents 18+ have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
With files from CTVNewsToronto.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.