The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is closing out 2020 with their highest active COVID-19 case count since the pandemic began in March.
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 Thursday, December 31, 2020.
The active COVID-19 case count, which has more than doubled in the past week, has risen to 99.
The total number of cases has jumped to 706, CK Public Health officials say.
The previous high for active cases was 93, which was recorded on August 7, 2020.
There are now seven active COVID-19 outbreaks across the community:
– Two institutional outbreaks: One at Riverview Gardens in Chatham and one at Copper Terrace in Chatham.
– And five un-named workplace outbreaks.
51 of the active cases are linked to close contact, 25 cases have information pending, 11 are unknown, 10 are linked to workplace outbreaks in Chatham-Kent and two are linked to institutional outbreaks.
CK Public Health officials say no one from Chatham-Kent is currently hospitalized with COVID-19.
To date, 604 people have recovered from the virus in Chatham-Kent, while three people have died.
A total of 55,997 tests for the virus have been completed to date.
With 2020 coming to a close, the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit is hoping for continued persistence from the community.
“We are at that intersection point where one year becomes another,” CK Public Health officials posted on social media on Thursday, December 31, 2020.
“At this moment, many of us collect our memories, feelings, and impressions from the year gone by to make room to experience all the ones that will come in the year ahead. We have lots to remember about this past year; for some the time has zoomed by, and for others it has lumbered along. At all speeds, this year has encouraged us all to be brave, curious, connected, and resilient. When faced with many challenges, we have consistently found ways to support each other.”
Public health officials added: “In 2021, let’s continue to find ways to do that, and be there for each other in ways that keep us all healthy and safe. In 2021, let’s persist. Stay safe, stay home, and stay curious about how we will continue to build a compassionate community, Chatham-Kent.
CK Public Health officials added they will not be reporting a COVID-19 status update on January 1, 2021, and will resume updates on Monday, January 4, 2021.
As of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, December 26, 2020, Chatham-Kent joined a province-wide shutdown, which will be in effect for a period of 28 days.
“This shutdown is a collective effort made by all of Ontario to help bend the curve of the COVID-19 virus, and put the health and safety of all of us as our top priority,” CK Public Health officials say.
“These unfortunate but necessary measures are needed to stop the trend of high COVID-19 transmission in communities, preserve the capacity of our health care system, protect and support vulnerable populations and those who care for them, and save lives.”
CK Public Health officials added: “Together, we can make it through this as a resilient, compassionate, and united community.”
More details about the province-wide shutdown can be found, here.
Public health officials are encouraging people to continue following these public health measures:
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/covid19 or call the CK Public Health COVID-19 intake line at 519-355-1071 ex. 1900.
