A Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) worker has been given a clean bill of health after initially receiving a positive test for COVID-19.
The health alliance announced a positive case last Wednesday, shortly after being informed by Chatham-Kent Public Health. At the time, health officials said the worker had been asymptomatic. CK Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Colby said the person would be retested to make sure the test was not a false-positive result before confirming it as an actual case.
The first worker, along with 25 staff members who had contact with them began self-isolating as a precaution, which has since been lifted.
Dr. Colby confirmed to Blackburn News that the re-test turned out to be a false-positive, a third test also turned out negative. He added that false-negatives and false-positives can occur in all medical testing.
On Friday, the CKHA announced another asymptomatic worker tested positive, which has been confirmed by public health. This case is now the only confirmed active case within the health alliance, and was likely contracted from family members. Dr. Colby explained that two positive cases are required before an outbreak is declared.
Despite the false-positive test result, visiting hours at CKHAs Chatham, and Wallaceburg sites remain cancelled until further notice.