CBC Windsor April 16 COVID-19 update: Here's what's happening at long-term care homes

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported 427 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex on Thursday, and two people have died from the disease, totalling in 18 deaths in the community. 

A female in her 80s has passed away in hospital and a male in his 70s died in a long-term care facility.

There has been a significant uptick of positive cases seen in those facilities for our region. Eleven people who have died from COVID-19 in Windsor-Essex were residents at long-term care or retirement homes and roughly 30 per cent of all cases are in those residents. 

As many as nine facilities have experienced an outbreak since the pandemic began, though two homes have been cleared.

Overnight, Sun Parlor Home for Senior Citizens, which is owned by the County of Essex, was added to that list after one resident there tested positive for COVID-19. 

A 78-year-old man who was at the facility has died from COVID-19.

"The resident had recently been to the hospital and, out of an abundance of caution, he was being cared for while in isolation," said Renée Trombley, communications manager for the County of Essex, in a press statement. 

"Our deepest condolences go out to his loved ones and our staff who cared for him. We are all mourning this tragic loss. The home has now been declared 'in outbreak.'

Trombley said the facility is taking "enhanced protective measures" to keep residents and staff there safe. 

"There is an active surveillance strategy that is there," said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health.

Ahmed said that includes twice daily temperature checks and symptoms checks, but that staff shortages and funding shortages to these facilities could be behind some of the outbreaks. 

The influx of positive cases — especially at Country Village Homes in Woodslee which now reports 61 positive COVID-19 residents — is largely due to an increase in testing. 

A directive to increase testing at long-term care homes came over the weekend from the provincial government, according  Ahmed, medical officer of health.

WATCH| The health unit's COVID-19 update for April 16:

CBC News has learned that four people have died at Heron Terrace Long Term Care Community, two people have died at Lifetimes on Riverside, and at least two people have died at Country Village Homes. 

However, Country Village Homes would not provide CBC News with an update April 15 on how many residents have died from COVID-19 there, and directed reporters to the health unit. The health unit for its part will not report how many individuals have died at long-term care or retirement facilities, citing privacy concerns. 

County Village Homes has been hit far worse by the pandemic. The Woodslee facility reported having 61 residents and 19 staff members testing positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday.

"We tested pretty much everyone in the homes," said Ahmed. "As a result of that, we will be doing more testing in many of these homes ... to make sure we are able to diagnose these cases early in our community." 

Early detection of these cases helps to ensure they are isolated and the spread is limited to other residents, said Ahmed.

"It spreads like wildfire and if one person is positive it leads to more cases."

Here's what's happening in our area:

• 23 firefighters off work amid COVID-19 pandemic
• Leamington hospital opening COVID-19 assessment centre
• Cards of encouragement brighten the days for seniors concerned about COVID-19
• Teen photographer captures Windsor's empty streets during pandemic

Windsor hospital sees most COVID-19 patients on ventilators outside of GTA

Windsor Regional Hospital has the most patients on ventilators in critical care with COVID-19 in Ontario, outside of the Toronto-area.

Right now, 11 people are on ventilators in Windsor who are being treated for the coronavirus. WRH CEO David Musyj describes the overall COVID-19 situation in hospital as "relatively stable."

"We're well equipped and we've increased our critical care capacity," said Musyj. "From a ventilation point of view, we're OK."

The number of COVID-19 positive patients at WRH is in the mid-20s, which has remained steady for the last few days and has fluctuated in recent weeks.

19 low-risk offenders at South West Detention Centre granted early release 

Nineteen low-risk offenders that were close to the end of their sentences have been released from the South West Detention Centre to keep the jail population down during the pandemic, said the office of the Solicitor General.

They announced on March 20, that they would be using longer-term temporary absences to allow the early release of low-risk offenders who were near the end of their sentence.

According to the ministry, the inmates would have had 30 days or less left on their jail term.

COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton

The health unit in Sarnia-Lambton reported 128 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, and 11 people have died from the disease in Lambton County. Another 41 people have recovered. 

At least six of the 10 deaths can be tied to the outbreak at the Landmark Village retirement home, the health unit said in an update Sunday. The number of infected at that facility grew by one on Saturday to 22 cases among the staff and residents.

On Wednesday, Lambton County reported the region's second COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care facility. 

One staff member has tested positive for coronavirus at Lambton Meadowview Villa. The facility is home to 125 people and employs almost 200 staff members. 

Bluewater Health and Lambton Public Health announced a new COVID-19 Assessment Clinic in Petrolia,  along with increased testing at the Sarnia location and an enhanced mobile testing unit for those with limited mobility. 

"We are delighted that we are able to quickly increase our ability to test the residents of Lambton County," said Dr. Sudit Ranade, medical officer of health, in a press statement.

"With more kits being made available, we are in a great position to further identify and track this virus locally. The province has worked to ensure that Ontario has sufficient test kits and we are appreciative."

COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent

Chatham-Kent Pubic Health reported Wednesday that 25 people in the region have tested positive for COVID-19. One person has died and 11 people have recovered. 

Of the 25 people who have tested positive for the disease, not one person is currently in hospital. Those diagnosed are recovering at home. 

About 662 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent. 

During a Thursday briefing, Chatham-Kent medical officer of health Dr. David Colby said smokers are likely at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to inflammed airways and a lack of cilia, making lungs more susceptible to infection. 

The region is currently conducting approximately 60 tests every day. Colby said the region has no shortage of testing kits at the moment. 

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance president and CEO Lori Marshall said the region plans on conducting more testing, adding that more test kits will be coming. 

Marshall said she's confident about the amount of personal protective equipment available at hospitals. 

The region has been working with the United Way to provide suppot for people living in poverty during the ongoing pandemic. 

Chatham-Kent has also added 46 new beds in "unconventional spaces," and are currently sitting at 50 per cent occupancy. 

Hospitals in the region are currently only performing critical and emergency surgeries.