The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is waiving fares for any rider using public transit for travel to or from COVID-19 vaccine appointments and walk-in clinics.
This policy comes into effect immediately and will run until August 30, 2021.
Riders attending any COVID-19 vaccination appointment, at CK Public Health Clinics, pharmacies or primary care offices, will have fares waived if they attend the appointment using any Ride CK Public Transit service including Chatham Conventional, Inter-Urban, Chatham Accessible, and Wallaceburg Accessible.
“We ask that riders let the driver know they’re going to a vaccine clinic at the time of boarding,” said Ann-Marie Millson, Manager of Transit for the Municipality, in a media release.
“We understand the cost of transportation can be a barrier for many residents who are trying to get vaccinated.”
“Removing barriers to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccines is a community effort and we are delighted to have such willing partners in our community,” added Dr. David Colby, Medical Officer of Health for Chatham-Kent, in a media release.
“I truly hope that people take advantage of this generous offer and take the time to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19 and its variants.”
Normal transit routes and schedules are operating with information available at www.rideck.ca.
For information on vaccination options, including upcoming CK Public Health clinics, please visit ckphu.com/covid-19-vaccination-clinics.
Riders are reminded it is mandatory to wear masks or face coverings on public transit vehicles and to practice physical distancing wherever possible, even at bus stops.
Keep two metres between yourself and others.
Practice good personal hygiene, including frequent handwashing with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
Riders who have symptoms associated with COVID-19, have travelled outside the country within the last 14 days, or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, should not take public transit.
Current Status in Chatham-Kent
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit officials updated their ‘current status’ page of their website on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.
Public health officials say a total of 129,414 doses have been administered to date, 70,346 people 12+ have received at least one dose and 61,472 people 12+ have received two doses.
The active COVID-19 case count has dropped to 10.
The total number of COVID-19 cases sits at 1,920 across Chatham-Kent.
CK Public Health officials say no one is hospitalized with COVID-19 from Chatham-Kent.
A total of 1,893 cases have been resolved, including 10 recoveries over the weekend.
A community outbreak at Community Living Chatham-Kent remains active.
Five of the active cases are linked to close contact, three are linked to the community outbreak, one is unknown and one case has information pending.
CK Public Health officials say a total of 259 Chatham-Kent residents have had COVID-19 with a variant of concern or related mutation.
A total of 121,887 tests for the virus have been completed to date.
Since the pandemic began last March, a total of 17 people from Chatham-Kent have died from COVID-19.
