CK Public Health is reporting two new cases of COVID-19.
As of Thursday afternoon, Chatham-Kent had a total of 14 active cases. Five of the cases were exposed through an outbreak at a local church, five are a close contact of a case, two were exposed at a workplace outbreak, and it's unknown how the other two were exposed.
CK Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby told Blackburn News the workplace outbreak was "definitely" brought in from outside of Chatham-Kent. He added the original source of the church outbreak is still unknown but continues to be investigated.
He also told Blackburn News that he is "considering several options" with regard to further restrictions for places of worship and that there is a link between the church community outbreak and the cases at local schools.
In the meantime, Blenheim's Word of Life Church has closed for two weeks. Pastor Tim Joyce has announced that one of his church families has tested positive for COVID-19. Pastor Joyce said he has been contacted by CK Public Health to self-isolate for 14 days because he had close contact with one of the members.
"I have not tested positive for the virus," he said in a Facebook post. "As a precautionary measure, I have made the decision to close Word of Life Church for two weeks."
He added the soup kitchen is also closed during that time.
"I would appreciate everyone's prayers and support during this time," Joyce said.
On Tuesday, CK Public Health reported that two positive cases of COVID-19 had been discovered at St. Anne Catholic School in Blenheim. A school service provider for both local school boards was also the first to test positive for COVID-19 within a school community in Chatham-Kent.