Second Windsor long-term care worker dies related to COVID-19

Second LTC worker dies related to COVID-19 A local LTC home worker has passed at the age of 64 after a battle with COVID-19. CTV Windsor’s Rich Garton reports.

Windsor, Ont. — The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit confirms a second long-term care worker in the region has died related to COVID-19.

Health unit CEO Theresa Marentette said Wednesday that a woman in her 60s working in a local long-term care home has died.

According to her obituary, Judy Hawkins died at the age of 64, after a hard-fought battle against COVID-19.

Wife, mother and Nonna, Hawkins worked at Shoreview at Riverside for the last two years as an activity assistant, “a job she loved, helping all of the residents on the 4th floor.”

According to WECHU, the Shoreview at Riverside has experienced multiple COVID-19 outbreaks during the pandemic, the most recent, involving dozens of residents and staff was rescinded Feb. 2.

It is not clear whether Hawkins contracted the virus within the home.

“It’s difficult to see that the deaths continue in the community,” says Marentette. “I do hope that with the vaccine, that we continue to roll it out and that it will protect people.”

A local personal support worker in long-term care, Sheila Yakovishin, 60, died related to COVID-19 on Dec. 31.

There are currently nine LTC and retirement homes in outbreak. The death toll in the region is at 348 people. WECHU says 225 deaths have occurred among residents and staff in long-term care and retirement homes.