Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for Windsor and Essex County, is taking a two-week leave.

During his absence, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be receiving support from other public health units, according to a Thursday statement from CEO and chief nursing officer Theresa Marentette.

"No further details about the leave will be shared," the statement said.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara, who is warden of Essex County and chair of the WECHU board, did not provide a specific reason for Ahmed's absence but acknowledged the strain the pandemic has had on the health unit staff including Dr. Ahmed.

He told CBC Radio's Windsor Morning that it's been over a year of work days, 12 hours or longer through the waves of the pandemic.

"It puts a lot of mental stress on one individual's shoulders," he said.

In the interim, McNamara said, Toronto's associate medical officer of health will be assisting the unit.

"Anything that has to be identified or dealt with under the guidance of a medical officer of health will be through her at the moment," he said.

Dr. Ahmed's absence comes as the COVID-19 vaccine roll out ramps up in the region, and amid a dispute over the operation of the Downtown Mission shelter, which recently took on new clients in defiance of a health unit order.

Advocates were planning on staging a protest outside the health unit on Thursday, though the location has been moved to City Hall.