No new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Chatham-Kent on Thursday.
The local public health unit said active cases are down to 32 after six cases were resolved. The number of local people hospitalized with the virus also dropped by three and is down to two.
Two institutional outbreaks continue at Fairfield Park Nursing Home in Wallaceburg and the medicine unit at the Chatham hospital. Fairfield Park Administrator Tracey Maxim reported two active cases of COVID-19 among residents and three active cases among staff. She said all other cases have been resolved. The total number of cases in each outbreak remains unchanged from Wednesday.
One hundred total cases have been reported at Fairfield Park and 23 total cases have been accumulated at the hospital since their outbreaks began. Two female residents in their 90s have died from COVID-19 at Fairfield Park and three more residents who tested positive for the virus have passed away but their cause of death has not been listed as COVID-19.
"Our home is doing well, and we are pleased to report that most of our staff have been able to return to work. Our residents are happy to see their familiar faces and it is because of the efforts of our entire care team that we have turned the corner on this outbreak," wrote Maxim in a statement.
She added staff deployed from various local community partners are gradually transitioning out of the home and Fairfield Park is grateful for their help during this challenging time.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said he expects the region to drop by two categories down to yellow the next time the province announces new colour coded levels of its COVID-19 Reopening Framework, which is usually every two weeks.
"Our numbers in Chatham-Kent are looking very, very good right now," said Colby.
Colby also said results are pending on what COVID-19 variant was found in Chatham-Kent last week. The doctor said genome sequencing usually takes a week or two and expects results anytime. He added the odds are it's the British variant but he won't be sure until the laboratory work is complete. Dr. Colby said there's no need to double mask or have stronger masking practices because of the variant.
"Face coverings do play a role [but] I don't see inadequate face coverings as contributing to the spread of what's going on here," the doctor said.
Colby said the man with the variant was visiting Chatham-Kent from outside the country and was quarantining under federal law when it was caught during testing around day 10 of the isolation.
Colby said it's tough to say how many Chatham-Kent residents can be vaccinated daily when a mass vaccination clinic at the John Bradley Centre in Chatham opens, possibly in April. However, he added up to 70,000 residents in the municipality could get their shots in about 10 days if he had enough supply, even though it's admittedly an ambitious task.
"The limiting factor is not the availability of clinics and personnel to vaccinate. The limiting factor will be the number of vaccines that we can get in Chatham-Kent," Colby explained. "We are really ready to go and our vaccination team is just champing at the bit to get more vaccine and really show everybody what we can do."
The COVID-19 vaccine plan for Chatham-Kent was announced on Wednesday.
Dr. Colby also said he believes the vaccine is safe and effective for children 16 and under, even though it hasn't been approved for use in children yet.
