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The sharp rise of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Windsor-Essex continued on Monday morning, with the region’s health unit announcing a new total of 44 patients.

The spike follows Sunday’s announcement that the area’s total confirmations had reached 25 — up from just nine on Friday morning.

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Medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed noted that increases had been anticipated, as test results returned on an estimated 50 patients at Windsor Regional Hospital.

Ahmed reiterated what was said by himself and other local health officials who met via teleconference on Sunday: Community transmission of COVID-19 has come to Windsor-Essex.

“Initially, our cases are travel-related. But when the travel-related cases are not following (self-isolation) instructions, it leads to community transmission,” Ahmed said.

“That is what we are seeing right now.”

According to Theresa Marentette, CEO of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, about half of the region’s total COVID-19 patients are in the age group of 40 to 59 years old.