The number of active COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent is over 100 for the first time in a long time.
CK Public Health reported 125 active cases on Monday morning, which is an increase of 26 active cases since December 31. The health unit has decided to report the numbers earlier in the day at 10:30 a.m. Monday-Friday instead of 2:30 p.m. daily to line up with the province.
CK Public Health has reported nearly 170 new positive COVID-19 cases since December 24.
"What we do right now matters," the health unit said in a Facebook post on Monday morning.
The number of active cases in Chatham-Kent was 17 on November 30.
The latest numbers showed 70 new cases since December 31 along with one more local person hospitalized for a total of two. COVID-19 outbreaks are now up by three to nine -- six at workplaces, two institutional, and one in congregate living. Community Living Chatham-Kent reported on Monday morning that a person who receives support has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating at home. They also reported on December 28 that an employee had tested positive for the virus.
CK Public Health said 83 of the active cases have been traced back to close contact of other cases. Twelve active cases are linked to workplaces in Chatham-Kent and one is connected to a workplace outside of CK. Health officials said information is pending on 11 active cases while it is unknown how 15 cases were exposed to the virus.
Copper Terrace long term care home in Chatham and Riverview long term care facility in Chatham are the two institutions still in outbreak mode. The number of deaths related to COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent remains at three.
The local health unit is urging people to stay strong, stay focused, and stay home, adding "we can do this."
"Due to increased community transmission and rapidly growing case counts across Ontario, the province-wide shutdown was initiated to help slow the spread of COVID-19; we must keep in mind that the people getting sick today have been exposed up to two weeks ago," said CK Public Health. "With increased contacts leading up to and through the holiday period, we are going to continue to see daily increases in reported cases. We likely won't start to see the benefit of our collective action for another couple of weeks.
The local health unit said the main source of the local cases appears to be close contact during indoor gatherings over the holidays, often with people from high prevalence jurisdictions. Public health officials added they are working with the province to get the vaccines here as soon as possible.
"I want to remind everyone to respect the lockdown conditions, stay home as much as possible and do not host or attend indoor gatherings,” said Chatham-Kent's Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby.