Article content
“We are doing the best we can.”
Local health unit CEO Theresa Marentette shared a rare on-camera laugh with Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed Thursday morning when asked how her team has been able to keep up with rapid changes to Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or Health unit left in the dark about rapid changes to vaccine rollout Back to video
The provincial government’s announcement on Wednesday that vaccines would soon be available to those age 18 and older in COVID “hot spot” postal codes seven of which are in Windsor, Leamington, and Kingsville was news to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. They were still working to open up appointments to those age 50 and older in select postal codes, a change announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford only one day prior, along with the official start of the vaccine distribution plan’s second phase.
Those vaccinated make up nearly 23 per cent of the region’s population.
“It’s a pretty big achievement,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed. “You cannot imagine how much work went in behind the scenes.”
Since those ages 16 and younger are not currently eligible for any COVID-19 vaccine, only about 320,000 people in Windsor-Essex can receive the jab, he said. That means nearly one in three eligible residents has been fully or partially inoculated.
“It really is a testament to the commitment of our partners,” said health unit CEO Theresa Marentette. “The municipalities,… Erie Shores HealthCare, Windsor Regional Hospital, they have been giving out vaccines for quite some time now. EMS (the ambulance service) has been helping as well. A lot of work has gone into achieving this and using all of our vaccines.”
Article content
An elderly man facing a second-degree murder charge will undergo further assessment of his fitness and criminal responsibility.
The 95-year-old Wallaceburg man, charged in connection to the death of his 89-year-old wife, made a brief appearance in a Chatham court on Friday via teleconference. A publication ban prohibits publishing any details that would identify the accused or the deceased.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser. Elderly Wallaceburg man facing murder charge will undergo further assessment at forensic mental health facility Back to video
A fitness and criminal responsibility assessment was completed on the accused while he has been in custody at the South West Detention Centre in Windsor. However, his lawyer Greg McGivern requested an extension of this assessment be granted at the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care in St. Thomas.
Big achievement: Windsor-Essex to surpass 100,000 vaccinated against COVID-19 cbc.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cbc.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.