The number of active COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent continues to rise.
CK Public Health reported four new cases of the COVID-19 virus Thursday, bringing the total number of active cases in the community to 42.
According to Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby, three cases have been linked to an undisclosed outbreak in a congregate living setting.
"This is a very small outbreak compared to some of the outbreaks we've been facing since the beginning of the pandemic," said Colby. "We are working closely with the congregative living facility to get this under control."
The last outbreak in Chatham-Kent was recorded on July 28, 2021, which resulted in four active cases. The outbreak was resolved two weeks later.
President and CEO of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Lori Marshall says the hospital is treating eight patients for COVID-19.
"We have eight admitted patients who are confirmed COVID-19 positive," said Marshall. "One of those individuals is in the ICU, one of them is in our progressive care unit and the remaining six are on our medical unit."
In Chatham-Kent, adults aged 18+ have a 79 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 72 percent. Youth aged 12 to 17 have a 59 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 46 per cent.
"We were the leader at the beginning of the vaccination program of all jurisdictions across Canada," said Colby. "None of the patients in the hospital are fully vaccinated and we have 42 active cases almost all are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated."
According to the province, Chatham-Kent ranks second from the bottom among Ontario’s 34 public health units in COVID-19 vaccination rates for eligible residents.
In Ontario, all ages have a 72 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 66 per cent.
"Myself, the whole team, and the entire municipality have done everything to encourage people from Chatham-Kent to get vaccinated," said Colby. "We need to get 90 per cent vaccinated in order to stall this Delta variant. It upsets me that vaccine hesitancy is based on false factoids that seem to spread almost like the virus itself."
