The active COVID-19 case count across Chatham-Kent has risen to 34, CK Public Health officials say.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit updated their ‘current situation’ page, which provides a summary of COVID-19 cases and testing in Chatham-Kent, on Wednesday, December 2, 2020.
The fourth death in Chatham-Kent linked to COVID-19 was announced by public health officials on Tuesday.
Jeff Moco, a spokesperson for the CK Public Health, told the Sydenham Current they “can’t share any specific details in regards to the most recent death at this time” in an email.
The total number of cases in Chatham-Kent has risen to 515.
An outbreak as declared at Riverview Gardens on Tuesday as well.
This is the first outbreak in a local long-term care facility in Chatham-Kent since the pandemic began in March.
Public health officials say a staff member is in self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.
CK Public Health has notified and isolated staff and residents who may have been exposed to the person, public health officials say.
An outbreak is declared in a long-term care home when it meets Ministry of Health criteria; one positive case is enough to declare an outbreak, CK Public Health officials added.
Dr. David Colby, Medical Officer of Health in Chatham-Kent, said Riverview Gardens has implemented outbreak management protocols, and all residents and staff have been notified.
Dr. Colby added they are “continuing to investigate and monitor the situation” along with providing support to the facility with education on infection prevention and control.
22 of the active cases are linked to close contact, eight cases have information pending, one is linked to the institutional outbreak at Riverview Gardens, one is linked to an outbreak in a community setting, one is unknown and one is linked to an institutional outbreak outside of Chatham-Kent.
CK Public Health officials say no one is currently hospitalized with COVID-19 from Chatham-Kent.
To date, 477 people have recovered from the virus in Chatham-Kent, while four people have died.
A total of 43,632 tests for the virus have been completed to date.
The Province of Ontario announced on Friday, November 20, 2020 that the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit would be moving in the ‘Yellow-Protect’ tier of the ‘Keeping Ontario Safe and Open’ framework on Monday, November 23.
On Friday, November 27, 2020, the Province announced Chatham-Kent would remain at the same level for the time being.
Public health officials are encouraging people to continue following these public health measures:
More details about the ‘Yellow-Protect’ tier can be found, here.
To view the full ‘current situation’ page from CK Public Health, click here.
For more information about COVID-19, residents are asked to visit
http://www.ckpublichealth.com/covid19Â or call the CK Public Health COVID-19 intake line at 519-355-1071 ex. 1900.
