The active COVID-19 case count has risen to 140 across Chatham-Kent.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit has updated their ‘current situation’ page, which provides a summary of COVID-19 cases and testing in Chatham-Kent, on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
The total number of cases has jumped to 805, CK Public Health officials say.
A new institutional outbreak has been declared at Village on the Thames, a retirement home located at 850 Grand Ave. W. in Chatham.
Public health officials say the outbreak was declared on Sunday, January 3, 2021 and involves one total case currently.
Overall, there are now 10 active COVID-19 outbreaks across the community:
– Three institutional outbreaks: Riverview Gardens, Copper Terrace and Village on the Thames.
– Six un-named workplace outbreaks.
– One congregate living outbreak.
“We can also confirm that the four long-term care cases have all been staff related as well,” Jeff Mocco, a spokesperson for CK Public Health, told the Sydenham Current.
98 of the active cases are linked to close contact, 21 are unknown, 11 are linked to workplace outbreaks in Chatham-Kent, five cases have information pending, two are linked to the congregate living outbreak, one is linked to workplace outbreaks outside of Chatham-Kent, one is linked to institutional outbreaks in Chatham-Kent and one is linked to institutional outbreaks outside of Chatham-Kent.
CK Public Health officials say four people from Chatham-Kent are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, up two from Monday.
To date, 662 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.
In a press release issued on Monday, CK Public Health officials say the majority of active cases are household or close contacts of previously reported cases, and several are outbreak-related.
“Nevertheless, there is a growing number without a known exposure… no epi-link to a case, an outbreak or travel,” public health officials say.
“The rapid rise in positive cases in Chatham-Kent over the past two weeks is concerning but is not limited to CK. Case numbers are rising across Ontario as was predicted by provincial modelling. The main source of our local cases appears to be close contact during indoor gatherings over the holidays, often with people from high prevalence jurisdictions.”
Public health officials say so far they have been able to trace and isolate the contacts of all positive cases and they are working with the Province to get the vaccine here as soon as possible.
“I want to remind everyone to respect the lockdown conditions, stay home as much as possible and do not host or attend indoor gatherings,” stated Dr. David Colby, Medical Officer of Health for Chatham-Kent, in a press release.
The people testing positive on Monday were exposed up to two weeks ago, CK Public Health officials say.
“With increased contacts over the holiday period, Chatham-Kent is likely to see increased case numbers for some time,” CK Public Health officials added.
“Stay home except for essential reasons and limit contact with others as much as possible.”
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.
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/covid19Â or call the CK Public Health COVID-19 intake line at 519-355-1071 ex. 1900.
