Windsor-Essex in 'comfortable' position to move into Step 2 of reopening: MOH
The province has indicated Step 2 of reopening won’t take place until July 2, but the Medical Officer of Health for Windsor-Essex says the region is already in a comfortable position to loosen restrictions.
Dr. Wajid Ahmed says that considering the high vaccination rate and low COVID-19 case count in Windsor-Essex, he would feel comfortable with moving to Step 2 early.
"If the trend continues, if the province announce that maybe this weekend or the next weekend, we can move to the next step, I'd be comfortable with that," says Ahmed.
WECHU reported nine new cases on Wednesday and there are only 89 active cases in the region.
"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," says Ahmed.
Ahmed doesn’t have the authority to move the region to Step 2 without provincial approval.
“As a community, we are in a position that we can open up sooner than later, but we recognize that this is something that’s happening provincially,” says Ahmed.
The Ontario Roadmap to Reopening hinges on several factors province-wide, including hospitalizations and vaccine coverage.
Kingsville council would also like to see the region reopen earlier and has backed a motion to invite Premier Doug Ford to visit the town to better understand the situation outside of the Greater Toronto Area.
“It’s very different than the GTA and certainly we understand the pressures of being a hot spot,” Kingsville mayor Nelson Santos says. “We were that hot spot for quite a long time and we suffered through and found a way.”
Santos feels this is an important time to help small businesses recover from shutdowns.
“It’s not business as normal for our community, and we kinda need to get back to what we’re used to this time of year,” he says.
The mayor would like to have council sign off on the letter and have it sent to Ford by the end of the week.
Windsor-Essex is better than the provincial average on both fronts. There are currently 10 people in the hospital with the virus, and three in the ICU.
The region has also surpassed the vaccine goals of over 70 per cent vaccinated with one dose and 20 per cent with both doses.
"In Step 2 of the reopening plan, we do talk about at least 20 per cent of the people vaccinated with two doses so we have already crossed that mark and crossed that significantly at more than 25 per cent," says Ahmed. "So we are in a better position to maybe consider reopening but I always caution in terms of the active cases."
Ontario's reopening roadmap (Supplied: Government of Ontario)
Windsor-Essex and the rest of the province moved into Step 1 on Friday, June 11, allowing patio dining and non-essential retail to reopen.
Step 2 would allow personal care services to reopen, six-people per table at patios, increased capacity at stores and outdoor sports games.
Indoor dining and indoor gyms are part of Step 3 of reopening, proposed for July 23.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.