The 31st COVID-19 death has been reported in Chatham-Kent.
Jeff Moco, a spokesperson for the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit, told the Sydenham Current the most recent death was a woman in her 60s, who died in a hospital outside of Chatham-Kent.
Public health officials say 27 Chatham-Kent residents are currently hospitalized for COVID-19 at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, three less than on Thursday.
72 new COVID-19 cases have been reported since Thursday, increasing the total number of cases to 4,376 since the pandemic began.
Public health officials say the current seven day rolling average case count (average number per day) sits at 83.
“The most recent surge of cases related to the Omicron variant has required Ontario to limit testing to high risk individuals,” CK Public Health officials say.
“This, in addition to a change in contact tracing using the provincial workforce, has made it challenging to provide accurate and up to date information on the current status of cases in Chatham-Kent. At this time we are not able to provide an accurate snapshot of active and resolved cases and will be working to provide more accurate information over time as we can.”
CK Public Health officials added: “Case counts in (the current situation report) are an underestimate of the true number of individuals with COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent and should be interpreted with caution.”
CK Public Health officials say the first initial screening results, indicating suspect Omicron variant, have been received recently.
“We can assume Omicron to be the predominant circulating variant of concern in Chatham-Kent,” public health officials say.
“Not all specimens can be screened and only a sample of specimens will undergo further sequencing, therefore variant lineage may be presumed based on the initial screening results.”
Public health officials say five outbreaks are active across Chatham-Kent:
– An outbreak at St. Angela’s Meadow Retirement Lodge in Chatham, declared on January 4, 2022, involves three cases.
– An outbreak at Wallaceburg Retirement Residence, declared on January 4, 2022, involves two cases.
– An outbreak at Hudson Manor in Tilbury, declared on January 3, 2022, involves four cases.
– An outbreak at Tilbury Manor Nursing Home, declared on January 2, 2022, involves four cases.
– An outbreak at Riverview Gardens in Chatham, declared on December 21, 2021, involves two cases.
The full “current situation” page can be found, here.
The Province of Ontario announced on Monday more restrictions are being implemented due to the Omicron variant. Details, here.
The latest COVID-19 information from the Province of Ontario can be found, here.
More COVID-19 information from the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit can be found, here.
