The number of active COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent are dropping, which has many wondering why the community is still in the Yellow-Protect level of Ontario's response framework.
CK Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said it could be a couple of weeks before provincial officials move the area back to Green-Prevent.
"They're going to go two incubation periods of the virus before moving anyone down in terms of their code," said Dr. Colby. "Our numbers right now, no question we deserve to be in green status, but given that limitation, it's going to be a couple of weeks."
But Dr. Colby also cautions that there is no guarantee that Chatham-Kent will go back down.
"I can't predict the future. We could have an outbreak in the next couple of weeks that would drive our numbers up again," said Colby. "I mean in the yellow classification, we don't really have to close any businesses or anything like that, so it's not a bad place to be at all."
COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent are trending in the right direction.
"We're down to 17 active cases, which when you look around to some of our neighbours, that's an amazingly low number," said Colby. "Barring any unforeseen jumps or outbreaks or anything like that, I suspect that's going to drop further today."
Dr. Colby is also hopeful that a vaccine will start to return things to normal.
"I'm not suggesting to our listeners that you'll be able to roll up your sleeve by Christmas time, but it won't be too long after that," said Colby. "Certainly, the vaccine will start to be available -- if everything goes smoothly -- in January."
Sarnia-Lambton was also moved to the Yellow-Protect level this week, while Windsor-Essex was moved up to Red-Control.